Copenhagenglass

Handmade glass in a historic Copenhagen basement

Copenhagenglass is hidden in the vaulted basement of an 18th‑century townhouse on Toldbodgade, a quiet street running parallel to the colourful facades of Nyhavn. Stepping down from street level, you move from the bustle of the harbourfront into a compact workshop where furnaces, tools and shelves of shimmering glass immediately set the scene. The space feels more like an artist’s atelier than a conventional shop. Low ceilings, exposed brick and thick walls betray the building’s age, while the warm glow from the glass furnace adds a soft amber light. It is an atmospheric backdrop for the contemporary Danish glass on display, which balances clean lines with a distinctly handmade character.

Design language shaped by sea, light and city life

The collection focuses on mouth‑blown everyday objects: tumblers, bowls, vases and small sculptural pieces. Many follow a consistent design language of rounded silhouettes, gently thickened bases and a colour palette drawn from Copenhagen’s maritime setting – think misty greys, seagrass greens, smoke blues and occasional warm amber. Instead of sharp angles or showy ornamentation, the pieces emphasise tactility and balance. Slight variations in shape and tone reveal the human hand in the process, making each glass subtly unique. This mix of functionality and soft, organic form sits comfortably within the broader tradition of Danish design: understated, practical and quietly elegant.

The furnace at the heart of the experience

At the centre of the studio is the glass furnace, where molten glass glows white‑orange before being gathered at the end of a blowpipe. During working hours you may see the glassblower shaping a vessel in real time, turning the pipe, reheating the piece and coaxing the form into life with wooden blocks, metal tools and careful breath. The proximity between workshop and retail shelves means there is almost no barrier between making and finished product. You can often recognise a glass just placed on display by the faint warmth it still holds. Explanations of techniques, from gathering and marvering to adding colour, are typically woven into the process, turning a simple browse into an informal introduction to glassblowing.

Hands-on sessions for small groups and celebrations

By advance arrangement, Copenhagenglass offers short glassblowing sessions tailored to small groups, couples and corporate teams. These experiences usually last around one to two hours, during which participants choose colours, discuss a simple design and are guided step by step through shaping their own piece, often a drinking glass or small decoration. The activity is designed to be accessible rather than physically demanding, with the glassblower controlling the most technical steps while guests contribute through blowing and basic shaping. Finished pieces need to cool slowly in an annealing oven and are collected or shipped the following day, becoming tangible mementos of the visit.

A courtyard retreat in the heart of Indre By

An unexpected bonus is the small internal courtyard that adjoins the workshop. Enclosed by historic brick walls and sheltered from the canalside crowds, it serves as a quiet retreat where group participants can sit while watching the glassblowing through open doors or windows. On fair‑weather days the contrast is striking: the hum of the city and harbour a short walk away, yet here the dominant sounds are the soft roar of the furnace and the occasional ring of tools on glass. Combined with the intimate scale of the studio, this gives Copenhagenglass a distinctly personal atmosphere within one of Copenhagen’s busiest central districts.