Bořek Šípek was born in 1949 in Prague. After his studies at the secondary school for applied arts in Prague from 1964-1968, and then in Hamburg from 1969 to 1973, he studied philosophy at Stuttgart between 1973 and 1977. He taught at the university for Industrial Design in Hannover from 1977 to 1979 and received a diploma from the Delft University of Technology. After receiving a prestigious award for a glass house realised for his sister in Hamburg, Borek Sípek opened his own architecture and design bureau in Amsterdam in 1983. He completed a greenhouse-like house project before devoting himself to designing furniture, ceramics and glassware. He signed, amongst others, the Bambi chair (1983), the Snu chaise longue (1987), the Satoni San table (1988) and the Hanneke vase (1989). His characteristic style blended the traditional Bohemian crystal traditions with baroque forms. He was named Designer of the Year in 1989 and is currently represented in many international museums. His pieces are edited in particular by Alessi, Driade, Flos, Wittmann and Vitra.
