Zentrum Studios

Doug Keller began as an artist in 1972, working primarily in the medium of glass. All of his glass work is done by recycling glass factory scrap, using a formula that includes various mixes and additions of metallic oxides. While experimenting with glass coloring, he discovered the Tiffany Patina for metal, a design created by Louis Comfort Tiffany, in his own lab. Tiffany was an American artist at the turn of the 20th century, whose style is most associated with art nouveau and aesthetic movements, and most famously, the “Tiffany Lamp”. It wasn’t until 1995 that Keller took his discovery and his artistic talent into his own workshop and began creating unique spectacles in glass. At this time, Keller was trying to recreate a perfect reproduction of an antique Tiffany box. He first approached ChemArt in 1995 to help him with the etched design that would cover the glass inlay, which he would then assemble and be able to sell to the discerning antique collector. Due to a host of circumstances, the job was not completed, and the project abandoned.

In 2004, Keller incorporated his own Company, Zentrum Glass. The word zentrum is German for “center”, which was not only the name of the town in which he lived, but also represented his own inner refocusing of his life back to a balanced and centered existence.

A year later Keller approached Dick Beaupre, Owner of ChemArt, to reopen the dialog between the two “manufacturers” about his Tiffany box idea. Keller found the ChemArt people to be friendly and obliging, and wanted to have another go at the project. He had rediscovered the Tiffany Dichroic Glass formula that might overcome the previous difficulties. ChemArt worked with these new specifications and was able to successfully produce the results.

With a recent foray into select trade shows, Keller has discovered what had been as yet uncharted territory for his business. With a product line that spans humidors, lamps, bookmarks and picture frames, Zentrum Studios now offers luxury goods to a high-end exclusive market with limited productions. All inquiries and referrals come from word-of-mouth and personal references.

While maintaining this exclusive line, Keller intends to make money in the mass market with his uniquely-etched bookmarks. Keller has made a long journey from the conception of his ideas in glass to his current entrepreneurial achievement. A spiritual man, who has made quite a journey from the beginning, Keller plans on giving away a portion of his proceeds to his spiritual and philanthropic endeavors.

To learn more about Doug Keller and his company, visit his web site at: http://www.zentrumstudios.com.

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