The process of handmade glass

How is made of glass

The glass blowing art begins by heating glass in a furnace until it is soft and pliable. Next, the glass blower dips the end of a blowpipe into the molten glass, gathering a blob of glass on the end of the pipe. The artist then rolls the soft glass on a marble or steel table, which begins to shape the piece and also to cools it slightly, to a temperature where it will not drip. The artist then begins slowly blowing air into the blowpipe, creating a bubble. More glass is added, and the artist continues to blow and shape the piece, using a variety of tools and sometimes molds to create the desired effect. 

If the artist wishes to add color, the hot glass is dipped into crushed colored glass before blowing.

After the piece has reached it's desired shape and is complete, the process of annealing begins. In this crucial final step, the piece is slowly cooled so that it doesn't crack and break.