Tom Martin treats a Christmas bauble as a memento first and a decoration second, and his inside painted glass baubles are made to be kept. Each one carries a memory that belongs to its owner, and it often resurfaces when decorations are unpacked each year.
“There’s something particularly lovely about unpacking decorations each year,” Martin says. “An object that’s been stored away for 11 months brings back memories and emotions that might otherwise have been forgotten.”
Two styles, one centuries-old technique
Martin sketches each design first. Artisans then bring it to life on inside painted glass baubles using inside painting, a technique in which the artist paints in reverse on the inside of a glass sphere. Studio materials describe the craft as 200 years old, while Martin calls it centuries old.
Hand-finished glass is a craft with many modern forms, and Apparatus’ Blown Glass and Brass Afsaneh Collection shows how glass can take on a mythic, sculptural character worth comparing with Martin’s painted pieces.
The studio works in two registers. Traditional pieces are scenic, often showing atmospheric, almost Dickensian Christmas settings in a modern setting. The newer, still-life style leans toward everyday objects and marks a fresh visual direction for the brand.
The seven inside painted glass baubles in The Pursuits Collection follow the second approach. They show small daily rituals, including sharing wine and cheese, a morning coffee and a game of cards.
A family tradition turned into a business
Martin’s interest began at home. Every Christmas, his mother bought him and his brother inside painted glass baubles. Over the years, the decorations became part of the family celebration. “My parents always made Christmas feel incredibly magical, so those decorations held a particular significance.”
Martin studied art at school and had always enjoyed painting. He eventually designed a bauble himself and found an artist to execute it. The workshop required a minimum run of 100 pieces. He kept three, one each for his mother, his brother and himself, and sold the rest through a website he built.
From a small run to a studio of clients
The small project grew quickly. The namesake studio, founded in 2010, has since made bespoke pieces for Claridge’s, Rosewood London and Belmond. Martin says the clients have changed, but the aim has not: beautiful objects that become lasting mementos.
Martin says the most valued decorations carry a story. Many customers buy them to mark a moment, celebrate an occasion or reflect a personal interest. He admits that picking a favourite is difficult after years of design work. Still, he names the new martini bauble, since he enjoys a martini on Friday evenings.
The other pursuits in the collection came from people close to him. His brother-in-law is fond of card games, Martin plays tennis, and several friends are keen golfers. “These are the little interests and rituals that make people who they are,” he says.
He wanted the collection to feel personal without being personalised. “Something you could give to a friend, and they’d immediately recognise why you’d chosen it for them.”
Scale and reach for inside painted glass baubles
The studio’s bespoke service has a track record. It has been running for eight years, and the company describes 15 years of expertise overall. Since the bespoke service launched, the studio has hand-painted more than 70,000 custom baubles for clients in 32 countries or territories. It ships through DHL Express.
Its 2024 winter collection included five new inside painted glass baubles. One, a bauble showing Windsor Castle with royal guards in red tunics and bearskin hats, retails at £40 including tax.
Studios like this one often mix tradition with new commissions, much as Manuel Bano’s Copper Work at PAD London does, so it is a useful look at how a craft tradition can be shown to a design-led audience.
Martin applies the same principles to decorating a tree as to an interior: layering, contrast and depth. Lighting matters most, and he recommends mixing sizes, shapes and hanging heights. “People often make the mistake of decorating only the outermost branches,” he says. “Some of the most beautiful effects come from placing baubles deeper within the tree, where they catch the light.”
Martin hopes his glass baubles outlast the season. “It’s incredibly rewarding to think that something we’ve created might become part of another family’s Christmas for generations,” he says. The value, in his view, lies less in how a bauble is made than in what it comes to represent.
H/T wallpaper.com
Frequently asked questions
What is inside painting on glass baubles?
Inside painting is a technique in which the artist paints in reverse on the inside of a glass sphere. Tom Martin’s studio uses this method, which the article describes as centuries old.
How many custom baubles has the studio hand-painted for clients?
Since its bespoke service launched, the studio has hand-painted more than 70,000 custom baubles for clients in 32 countries or territories. The bespoke service has been running for eight years.
Which hotels has Tom Martin’s studio made bespoke baubles for?
The studio has made bespoke pieces for Claridge’s, Rosewood London and Belmond. Martin says the clients have changed over time, but the aim of creating lasting mementos has not.
How did Tom Martin’s interest in inside painted baubles begin?
His interest started at home, where his mother bought him and his brother inside painted glass baubles every Christmas. Over the years, the decorations became part of the family celebration.
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