Info-Authority: Art Glass

Art glass generally refers to glass that is molded, usually using heat, into decorative pieces such as goblets, wall sculpture, furniture and chandeliers. Most art glass is ornamental rather than utilitarian, blown, stained or soldiered for display in homes or galleries. Modern art glass is a boutique operation compared with the industrial pre-1960s, with individual artists working alone with a few assistants to mold works from a furnace containing a few hundred pounds of molten glass. These items can be worth as much as tens of thousands of dollars, depending on who made them. Before the 1960s, art glass sculptures were made by teams of men who took molten glass from a furnace with more than a thousand pounds of glass. These pieces were all hand or mold blown by teams of men who did repetitive work, producing dozens of the same item in a day's work.

Blowing Art Glass

Well-known art glass specialists such as Tiffany and Streuben in the United States, Galle from France, Hoya Crystal in Japan and Kosta Boda of Sweden all emerged from a factory system where the glass works were created by teams of four or more men. Art glass has become very popular in recent years, with glass blowing growing faster than any other hobby in the United States. Glass is blown using a metal tube or blowpipe, which is used to gather molten glass from a furnace. The glass is molded by rotating the rod with one hand, while the other shapes the glass with a cool metal spatula (marver). Air can be blown through the pipe to create a hollow bubble in the piece. The shape can be controlled through the spinning action (similar to pottery). A platter shape can be made by spinning the pipe so it spreads out much like a pizza base.

High Quality Art Glass

For smaller pieces, glass rods and tubes are manipulated using alcohol lamps and breath or bellows-driven air. The lampworker uses an oxygen or propane flame to work the glass that is attached to a rod for shaping. He or she may use multiple-headed torches and lathes to help form the glass or fused quartz. Good quality art glass is free of paper burns (dull spots), uneven waves of glass or cords which are strands of material that stand out from the surrounding glass. You should see no folds, cracks, holes, nicks or scratches. Bubbles are nearly impossible to avoid, and are more often caused by the manufacturer of the color than the artist. Generally, the deeper the color of the piece, the more difficult it is to make.
Dale Chihuly is one of the best-known art glass makers, using some of the best independent artists to help make his large, colorful pieces.

By Louise Bleakley




	Art Glass Art glass generally refers to glass that is molded, usually using heat, into decorative pieces such as goblets, wall sculpture, furniture and chandeliers. Most art glass is ornamental rather than utilitarian, blown, stained or soldiered for display in homes or galleries. Modern art glass is a boutique operation compared with the industrial pre-1960s, with individual artists working alone with a few assistants to mold works from a furnace containing a few hundred pounds of molten glass. These items can be worth as much as tens of thousands of dollars, depending on who made them. Before the 1960s, art glass sculptures were made by teams of men who took molten glass from a furnace with more than a thousand pounds of glass. These pieces were all hand or mold blown by teams of men who did repetitive work, producing dozens of the same item in a day's work. Blowing Art Glass Well-known art glass specialists such as Tiffany and Streuben in the United States, Galle from France, Hoya Crystal in Japan and Kosta Boda of Sweden all emerged from a factory system where the glass works were created by teams of four or more men. Art glass has become very popular in recent years, with glass blowing growing faster than any other hobby in the United States. Glass is blown using a metal tube or blowpipe, which is used to gather molten glass from a furnace. The glass is molded by rotating the rod with one hand, while the other shapes the glass with a cool metal spatula (marver). Air can be blown through the pipe to create a hollow bubble in the piece. The shape can be controlled through the spinning action (similar to pottery). A platter shape can be made by spinning the pipe so it spreads out much like a pizza base. High Quality Art Glass For smaller pieces, glass rods and tubes are manipulated using alcohol lamps and breath or bellows-driven air. The lampworker uses an oxygen or propane flame to work the glass that is attached to a rod for shaping. He or she may use multiple-headed torches and lathes to help form the glass or fused quartz. Good quality art glass is free of paper burns (dull spots), uneven waves of glass or cords which are strands of material that stand out from the surrounding glass. You should see no folds, cracks, holes, nicks or scratches. Bubbles are nearly impossible to avoid, and are more often caused by the manufacturer of the color than the artist. Generally, the deeper the color of the piece, the more difficult it is to make. Dale Chihuly is one of the best-known art glass makers, using some of the best independent artists to help make his large, colorful pieces. By Louise Bleakley Related Links: Glass Act Step by step glass blowing demonstration.