North Carolina glassblower makes 1K Christmas ornaments each year
By Derek Bryant
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ASHEVILLE, North Carolina (WLOS) — For nearly three decades, Asheville has been home to glassblower and lampworker Jason Probstein, an artist whose hands have shaped thousands of ornaments, nightlights, vases and delicate glass vessels that end up in homes and galleries across the country.
Probstein has been working with glass for 30 years, perfecting a process that merges technique, intuition and what he calls “dancing with the glass.”
His studio is filled with tubes of Pyrex, a material he mastered during his early training as a chemistry glassblower. Instead of sticking to laboratory work, he transformed those skills into a career creating art — precision meeting imagination.
“I do my work in stages,” Probstein said. “We color the tube with the color of glass. Once that tube is colored, I can shape the glass by blowing and pushing as I’m melting it in the fire. From that blowing and pulling, I can get a variety of different shapes.”
Watching him work is like watching choreography. He heats a glowing ball of glass, twists it and feels its temperature through the movement of his hands. As it cools, he blows into the tube, expanding it like a shimmering balloon before shaping it into ornaments, vases, or the playful curls he describes as “the tail of a pig.”
Probstein produces around 1,000 Christmas ornaments each year, constantly experimenting with new shapes, color patterns, and designs. While many hang from holiday trees, others catch sunlight in windows year-round. “Sometimes I say they’re for the window. Sometimes for the tree. It depends on the person and the colors,” he said.
His palettes range from classic Christmas hues to rainbows and soft pastels.
Because he sells primarily to galleries and museums nationwide, consistency is key. His scientific background gives him the rare ability to replicate designs with precision while ensuring each piece still carries its own unique flare.
“They want to know they’re receiving a consistent product,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m successful wholesaling — every piece is unique, but still similar.”
Despite the technical mastery, Probstein says the heart of his work lies in the connection it builds.
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