Ernest Porcelli

Glassblowing means shaping molten silica into vessels, jewelry, and installations—Ernest Porcelli handles all of it from a Brooklyn studio. They turn gathers of fiery borosilicate into custom vases, sculptural pieces, and shaped functional glassware; process also includes annealing finished works for stability and clarity. Beside vessels, they supply small batches for designers and custom signage crafted to specification—nothing off-the-rack, just made to order.

Pop by the sun-bleached brick corner at 220 36th Street in Sunset Park to watch pieces in progress—some call it the neighborhood’s quiet furnace of creativity. While the address sits south of 39th Street and east of 3rd, the studio keeps longer hours than most nearby glass collectives; you’ll need to reach out ahead if you’re after a one-off dinner set or a wall-mounted light catcher. A call ahead rarely hurts even for a single ornament—whoever picks up will note your brief if you’re just curious about the kiln schedule.

Navigate with precision using the map: set your course here. Once you’re on 36th, the place marks itself with a faint glow after dusk—some locals swear they follow it home when it’s late.