17.0732° N, 96.7266° W

Glass in Motion, Grounded in Oaxaca

Just outside Oaxaca City, innovation meets tradition at a pioneering glass studio co-founded by artist Christian Thornton and engineer Salime Harp Cruces, who are redefining sustainable craftsmanship. Their furnaces are fueled by used vegetable oil and methane from biodigesters, reducing environmental impact while preserving traditional glassblowing techniques.

Beyond the studio, their designs have been shared with women-led bakeries, helping to reduce firewood use and smoke pollution in nearby communities. This holistic approach integrates environmental responsibility with social empowerment.

How It’s Made

Using locally collected glass, artisans melt and shape each piece by hand, adding mineral pigments and glass frit for natural coloration. The resulting forms are fluid and organic, with slight variations that reveal the human touch behind every piece.

  • Starts with locally collected glass from restaurants and recycling programs
  • Melted in custom-built, waste-fueled furnaces
  • Colored with mineral pigments and glass frit—never synthetic dyes
  • Mouth-blown with traditional tools and techniques
  • Cooled slowly for strength and longevity

Why It Lives Here

These vessels feel alive, carrying momentum, memory, and movement. They embody the harmony of sustainability and beauty, reminding us that innovation can honor tradition. This is the kind of innovation Esas Mesas stands behind—craft that gives back, design that respects place, and form that moves with purpose.

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