Breathtaking Beauty

Balance Chandelier - Photo courtesy of Ulla Darni

Being in the Interior Design business I have the good fortune to be introduced to beautiful things every day. I may spend the day at the Marketplace Design Center in Philadelphia, touring showrooms full of the most exquisite fabrics and furnishings. If I’m in the office, working at my computer magnificent imagery arrives daily via email and snail mail. Manufacturers, Importers and Artisans send photos of their latest products and projects. Free time is spent perusing my favorite design blogs. I don’t believe that I am jaded because I love and appreciate what I do. Being surrounded by beauty is a blessing, but there are not too many things that elicit a gasp anymore. Living in the country I am also influenced by nature’s splendor, which is tough to surpass. 

Swing Red & Gold Chandelier - Photo courtesy of Ulla Darni

Recently I received an email featuring the artist, Ulla Darni. As you can see from these photographs her work is stunning, and literally took my breath away. In less than a decade Ulla has been established as the modern master of reverse-painting on glass. A century ago, Louis Comfort Tiffany was using glass with impurities to create his unique style of stained glass. Prior to that, painting in glass paint or enamels on colorless glass had been the dominant method of creating stained glass for several hundred years in Europe. Ulla’s talent is so perceptible that she has been hailed as “Today’s Tiffany.” 

Paris Lamp Onion Dome - Photo courtesy of Ulla Darni

When she was a young woman, Ulla started her career in Copenhagen as a porcelain painter. The following excerpts were derived from Ulla’s online biography: “her luck, beauty, and vivacious personality led to a career on stage and screen.” After seven years as an actress, “Ulla moved to New York and began studying painting with renowned artist mentors at New York’s Art Student League and won prizes and recognition for her paintings on canvas.” Eventually, Ulla moved to the Catskill Mountains and began selling antiques from her home, which was also lavished with paintings by Ulla. An antiques dealer that had seen her paintings approached Ulla with a reverse painted lamp that needed repair. He sold the repaired lamp for a large sum which inspired Ulla to consider creating a business. 

Original Chandelier Number FiftyTwo - Photo courtesy of Ulla Darni

In addition to paintings Ulla creates painted glass shades for chandeliers, table lamps, sconces, floor lamps and nightlights. Similar to an authentic Tiffany, Handel or Pairpoint lamp from the Art Nouveau era, Ulla’s fixtures are supported by ornate metal bases. Ulla does the sculpture work for the cast bronze bases and one of her assistants makes the molds. Offsite an artist does the casting, another artist hand forges the iron bases and a third artist hand-blows the glass for the shades. When she collaborates with other artisans, Ulla carefully oversees every detail to ensure the excellence of the entire design. 

Vienna Thin Purple Lantern - Photo courtesy of Ulla Darni

There are several collections available. Each item in the Ulla Originals collection is a one-of-a-kind creation painted by Ulla. The Multiple Originals collection features studio painted versions of original designs by Ulla Darni. Each signed and numbered piece is executed under Ulla’s direction by her talented artists in the Catskill Mountains Studio. Currently there are thirty patterns available. Ulla’s Studio Line  is an affordable gallery of digitally-reproduced, limited edition works from Ulla. Designs have been completed and production is underway. 

Original Floor Lamp Number Twenty Five Ninety Eight - Photo courtesy of Ulla Darni

This past year I have seen two other things that I felt were visually spectacular, the world of Pandora in the Avatar Film and the Dream Garden at the Curtis Center. I was musing about just what makes these things so appealing. They share similar elements or connections, the Avatar; Ulla’s work; Louis Tiffany; the Dream Garden; Art Nouveau; Philadelphia; Maxfield Parrish and the recent film version of Alice in Wonderland. But that’s a topic for another day!