The first stop on the tour will be the Swarovski Gallery Store, Mall At Millenia, Orlando, FL on Tuesday October 19, 2004 from 1:00PM to 4:00 PM.

Anton Hirzinger will also be joined by another Swarovski designer, Michael Stamey, as they collaborate their efforts in signing their creations and meet with Swarovski Collectors during the 3 hour event.

Later the same week, Anton Hirzinger will visit Massachusetts and host a signing event at the Swarovski Gallery Store in the SHOPS at the Prudential Center on October 21, 2004 from 6pm until 9pm.

The signing event tour for Anton Hirzinger has been traveling all over the world, with recent stops in the UK, Hong Kong, Canada. This is the first time the tour has visited the USA.

The tour will continue after Massachusetts with a second trip to the UK and ending in Austraila with a Swarovski Collector Society GALA.

With a career at Swarovski, a childhood dream has come true for the local boy from Innsbruck. As a child, Anton Hirzinger dreamed of one day becoming a stonemason. During his teenage years, he discovered crystal design and went to study at the world-renowned College of Glassmaking in Kramsach. Upon completion of his College education, he took his first steps in the glass-making business in a small Tyrolean glass factory, where he perfected his technique. In 1986 his passion for crystal led him to Swarovski, where today he is still constantly exploring new approaches to "his" material.

After spending several years demonstrating the art of glass-cutting and engraving for visitors to the Crystal Shop in Wattens, he moved on to to join Swarovski's own team of designers in 1991. To him, the challenge of crystal design is a constant source of inspiration – a challenge, which he has mastered with enormous success.

Anton Hirzinger made a name for himself in 1995 with theCentenary Swan, created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the company, and his Silver Crystal Maxi Swan. These were followed by a number of crystal animal figurines and special editions. Further highlights of his career as a designer are The Crystal Planet Millennium Edition and The Squirrel – issued in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Swarovski Collectors Society.

Anton Hirzinger has two children and likes to spend what little leisure time he has with his family in the mountains of his Tyrolean home. His hobbies include hiking and skiing, but also his childhood dream of sculpting and his extensive collection of crystal objects. He seeks cultural inspiration for his work in neighboring Italy.

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