John Barber: He Made Our Worlds Beautiful

Every year when I purchased more glass ornaments from John Barber, I’d make him submit to a photo. I can’t even tell you how delighted my friends and clients were to receive these beautiful ornaments.

I just learned yesterday that the great John Barber passed away on Monday. (John Barber Glass Designs) What an amazing glass blowing talent - from this tiny town of ours - who became an internationally renowned success.

Rebecca, you lovely friend, I am so so sorry for your loss.

I loved that the Montage put so many of John Barber's works of art in their property. I can't tell you how many times I've trotted up from my beach (West Street) to the Treasure Island beach below the Montage and, then, up those never-ending stairs to the Montage entrance. I would ensure this was all done just as the sun was considering setting so that I could sit and watch the backlights come on behind John's amazing wall of art. It is truly mesmerizing.

I loved that Chef Schwarz and his team put John Barber's custom chandeliers in their original Sapphire restaurant, and that the current owners under Russ Bendel wouldn't THINK of changing them out.

John Barber called these “jellyfish chandeliers.” Sapphire, Cellar. Craft. Cook enjoys nine of them, which were first put in play when Sapphire originally opened in The Pottery Place. Photo credit: Sapphire Owner Russ Bendel

I loved that I have friends in this town who have an entire wine closet pantry stacked with single wine glass designs of John's - like 30 or more - and I thought, "I'm going to have the same some day." What an epic thing to do!

My little collection of John Barber’s rocks glasses

My BFF, Lisa Childers, got me started on John Barber's extraordinary work when she gifted ME four of his rocks glasses that I carry with me like a royal crown on a red pillow to every single place I've lived. (19 counting as of the last move and they're still intact and beautifully displayed wherever I find my home.) I've never used them - they're just too beautiful.

On this last move back to Laguna Beach (exactly a year ago!), I left the vast majority of my belongings in my investment house in Oregon or in a sizable storage unit, also in Oregon. I brought with me only the items I can't live without – of course, John Barber's glasswork came along.

I've purchased SO MANY gifts from John Barber for my friends and clients over the years. Wine glasses. Rocks glasses. Dozens of hand-blown tree ornaments that I've shipped all over the world.

Ruben Flores of Laguna Nursery used to carry these Barber garden rods - they would sell out nearly as quickly as he could get them in. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have any in stock any longer.

John’s renowned wine glasses.

The only Barber piece I gifted myself is this beautiful shell that I now have perching on a lit base on my nightstand table. Of course, it traveled with me to Oregon when I was setting up my investment house and looking after my Mama … because it was my daily reminder of everything I loved about Laguna Beach.

I will miss you, John. Thank you for making our world so much more beautiful.