Crafting Beauty Since 2012

About

At Utopia & Utility, we believe that everything that deserves to be made, deserves to be made well. Our creations combine traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design to bring meaningful, beautiful, and functional sculptures into everyday life.

Founded in 2012, Utopia & Utility merges the functional with the fantastical through handcrafted vessels that unite materials like glass, wood, and metal. Each piece tells a story of collaboration, heritage, and sustainable creativity.

Our Philosophy

We are passionate about the union of form and function. Our handcrafted glass and wood vessels serve not only as practical objects but also as sculptural expressions of beauty and purpose. Each piece is created in partnership with skilled artisans across Europe, respecting age-old techniques while embracing new design ideas.

Sustainability and Craftsmanship

Craft is at the heart of what we do. We work with local artisans and sustainable materials, ensuring each object supports ethical production and long-lasting quality. Our process values small-scale manufacturing, transparency, and ecological responsibility.

Every vessel is a unique composition, made by combining individually blown glass, hand-turned wood, and other materials to form an elegant stack—objects that are as purposeful as they are poetic.

Collaborations and Recognition

Utopia & Utility has been featured in prestigious design exhibitions and publications worldwide. Our work is collected by those who value artistry, functionality, and sustainability in equal measure. We collaborate with galleries, concept stores, and design institutions that share our appreciation for thoughtful making.

ABOUT THE CONCEPT

Stacking Vessels, where sculpture meets function

Stacking Vessels are more than objects—they are functional sculptures that seamlessly blend artistry with utility. Handcrafted from natural materials such as glass, wood, and metal, each vessel is thoughtfully designed to stack into a sculptural composition, celebrating both form and function.

Every piece is a reflection of traditional craftsmanship and modern design. The modular construction invites interaction and offers versatility—each element can be used independently or arranged together to create a striking visual statement. These vessels are both beautiful decor pieces and tactile, practical containers that bring purpose and personality into the home.

Mouth-Blown Glass

Hand-weaven Makenege Basket

Raku Ceramic

Hand-made Glass Molding

Metal Spinning

Hand-turned wood

Hand-shaped wood

Hand-turned Ceramic

Mouth-Blown Glass

Shaped by breath and human touch

This is an ancient craft where stories are not written but breathed. Mouth-blown glass honors a heritage of makers who learned by watching elders shape fire into form. The craft demands physical endurance, steady breath, and an intimate understanding of the material.

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Hand-weaven Makenege Basket

Woven with intention

Makenge fibers are gathered, softened, and woven with patience. This is a craft of memory, where every loop and turn carries the imprint of cultural tradition — an object shaped by both nature and heritage.

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Raku Ceramic

Beauty in unpredictability

In Raku firing, clay moves from intense heat into cool air, where smoke wraps it in swirling, unpredictable patterns. The final surface is never planned; it’s revealed — a gift from the elements.

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Hand-made Glass Molding

Shaped with quiet precision

In this traditional craft, molten glass is guided into a hand-shaped wooden mold — a tool carved with intention and years of experience. As heat meets wood, the form begins to emerge, shaped through careful pressure and the artisan’s steady rhythm.

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Metal Spinning

Symmetry shaped in rotation

The metal begins as a simple disc, placed onto the spinning lathe. As it turns, the artisan leans in — applying controlled pressure, coaxing the metal to stretch, bend, and rise. In this dance of force and finesse, a vessel is born: smooth, balanced, and quietly powerful.

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Hand-turned wood

Shape follows the spin

Hand-turning transforms raw wood into refined shapes through controlled rotation and careful carving. The craftsman reveals the wood’s natural character while shaping smooth, balanced forms. Each piece is simple, intentional, and rooted in skilled technique.

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Hand-shaped wood

Guided by nature’s own lines

Here, wood is shaped not by forcing symmetry but by responding to what’s already there. The maker traces natural lines, listens to the grain, and allows the material to guide each gesture. The result is a form that feels organic and grounded — a vessel born from nature’s design and human care.

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Hand-turned Ceramic

Motion reveals the vessel

On the wheel, clay softens into motion.
The artisan guides the spinning form with water, fingertips, and intuition — listening to the subtle shifts of pressure and weight.
The vessel that emerges carries the quiet rhythm of the process, grounded yet fluid in its presence.

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Meet the designer, Pia Wüstenberg

Pia Wüstenberg founded Utopia & Utility with a vision to unite traditional craftsmanship and modern design. After graduating from the Design Products program at the Royal College of Art in 2011, she established her first studio in Hackney, East London—a creative environment that shaped her early aesthetic.

Since 2017, Pia has worked between studios in Northern Germany and Eastern Finland, drawing inspiration from the contrast between industrial and natural landscapes. Her design approach is rooted in sustainability, material integrity, and a deep respect for the handmade.

Pia’s work explores the connection between material, process, and place, blending cultural storytelling with contemporary, functional design.

Uniting artisans to create timeless heirlooms

Across Europe, I travel to seek out and connect with master craftsmen—the finest in their respective fields. These are not fleeting encounters but relationships built to last a lifetime: reciprocal partnerships where we learn from one another, inspire each other, and push the boundaries of our craft.

Together, we bring to life objects that honor traditional artistry and meticulous skill. From semi-precious metal spinning to mouthblown glass, hand-thrown ceramics to turned wood sourced directly from the woodworker’s own forest, each piece carries the story, care, and expertise of its maker.

This is more than collaboration; it’s a shared journey of creativity and passion, resulting in heirlooms designed to be treasured for generations.

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This section can showcase current achievements, sustainability efforts, or the future direction of the brand.

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This section can showcase current achievements, sustainability efforts, or the future direction of the brand.

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This section can showcase current achievements, sustainability efforts, or the future direction of the brand.

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This section can showcase current achievements, sustainability efforts, or the future direction of the brand.