Empire Glassworks
American glass studio in upstate New York known for intricate, themed borosilicate pipes and bongs sold through head shop distribution.
Empire Glassworks is a real, US-based borosilicate glass studio that built its reputation on novelty themed pieces — Pokémon-inspired pipes, food-shaped rigs, animal sculptures. They're a production studio, not a single artist, and pieces are typically made by teams in their Brooklyn and Cattaraugus, New York facilities. The work is decorative more than functional, priced in the mid-range, and widely counterfeited. Treat them as a competent themed-glass brand, not as collectible heady art at the Salt or Banjo level.
What it is
Empire Glassworks is an American glassblowing studio that produces functional smoking accessories — hand pipes, water pipes, dab rigs, carb caps, and accessories — out of borosilicate glass. The studio operates production facilities in New York State and sells primarily through wholesale to brick-and-mortar head shops and online cannabis accessory retailers [1][2].
Unlike a solo studio artist, Empire functions as a collective production house: multiple glassworkers contribute to pieces, and most designs are produced in editions rather than as one-offs.
What they're known for
Empire's signature is heavily themed, sculpted borosilicate work — pieces shaped like avocados, honey jars with bees, cheeseburgers, mushrooms, octopuses, and various pop-culture references (some of which have drawn unlicensed-IP criticism, particularly Pokémon-themed pieces) [2]. The aesthetic priority is visual novelty rather than airflow engineering or percolation performance.
Most pieces are made from standard borosilicate (the same material category used by Pyrex labware and the majority of functional glass) Strong evidence. This is a material standard, not a quality claim — borosilicate just means it tolerates thermal shock better than soda-lime glass.
What it doesn't mean
Buying Empire glass does not get you a one-of-a-kind heady piece. These are production items, often made in small runs by a team. They're not in the same collector category as American heady artists like Banjo, Salt, or Buck. Pricing reflects this — most Empire pieces retail between roughly $40 and $400, well below collectible heady work [2].
The brand is also heavily counterfeited. Cheap knockoffs of Empire designs, particularly the food-themed rigs, are common on unauthorized marketplaces Weak / limited. The studio maintains an authorized retailer list to help buyers verify authenticity [1].
Used in articles about
Empire Glassworks comes up in discussions of borosilicate glass, dab rigs, headshops, and themed or 'novelty' glass as a category distinct from heady glass and scientific glass.
Sources
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