The techniques created to make glass by hand approximately 2000 years ago are still used today. Malleable when hot but swiftly cooling to become rigid, molten glass must be manipulated with precision and dexterity.
Glass can be produced in a variety of techniques, including mouth-blowing, pressing, and machine manufacturing. All methods rely on the plasticity of glass when hot and its rigidity when cool. Unlike pressed glass, which is created by pressing molten glass into a mold, handmade glass is created by mouth-blowing molten glass.
What is the process of the mouth-blowing method?
This is the simplest and most traditional approach to designing glass. In this method, the blowpipe is terminated by a heated, molten piece of glass. Many specialists refer to this end of the blowpipe as “gather.” After then, the blowpipe is slowly turned and expanded. The process involves adding air to the glass and keeping the gather at the right temperature. The glass may now take on the desired shape thanks to this. The glass must now be taken out. The vessel is removed from the blowpipe using an iron rod. After the procedure is finished, the vessel is heated once again and the shape is clarified further.
Because of the attractive inconsistencies created by the fast heating and cooling, each piece of mouth-blown glass is distinct. The mouth-blown beads are extremely alluring and are meant to give an elegant touch to their wearer.
Why is mouth-blown glass the preferred choice?
We prefer mouth-blown glass as this offers exceptional quality and seemingly endless possibilities for transformation. When the material can be manipulated by hand, experimentation with form, color, texture, and weight becomes possible. Our experience with the material allows us to experiment with different techniques, pushing the boundaries of hand production. Quality, shape, and size are always consistently maintained at capacity however with handmade glass no two pieces are ever identical.
How does one become a glassblower?
Training to be a glassblower can take up to five years. The craft demands excellent coordination, perpetual movement, and intuitive timing. Glassblowers work in teams and it can take up to eight people to create any given product. The time taken to make each piece varies with complexity and size. Each person is responsible for a different element of the process and trains for several years to refine and perfect the specifics of their craft.
