Long before the rise of the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean area, artisans had mastered the craft of blowing glass. During the reign of the Romans, the art became highly popular and the sale of the various works flourished. There are still collectibles from that era on display in museums throughout Southern Europe to this day. Here are some great tips on what to look for if you’ve become interested in starting your own exotic collection of hand blown glass.
Not All Hand Blown Glass Is Mouth Blown
When glass is blown by mouth, the artist needs to constantly create small bursts of air and force it down the small tube known as a blowpipe. The molten glass, at the other end of the blowpipe, must be worked quickly before it cools. This means the blower can’t take any breaks because if he does, the glass will cool and he may have to start all over again.
This led to the invention of compressors that were made from animal skins and worked by an assistant that would constantly keep the air coming through a tube to the artist. These ancient compressors looked very similar to the modern fireplace hand blowers that we have today. With this method, the craftsman could complete many more products in a day since he no longer needed to supply all of the air to expand the molten glass.
The glass artwork made using the compressor is still widely collected and most modern day production craftsman use some type of compressed air while working.
Sometimes Molds Are Used In Blown Glass
It’s a misconception that molded glass can’t be considered blown. In fact, many of the older larger companies that made some of the best, most elegant, glasswork used molds to create many pieces of the same shape or form. Due to the care taken to not have any markings that indicate a mold was used, it’s difficult to discern just by looking whether a piece is made using this technique.
When looking at a piece that has been molded, you can usually tell by looking at the bottom to see whether it is rough or smooth. Blown glass should always be as smooth on the bottom as it is on the sides. Plus, molded glass will many times have seams up the sides indicating were the top and bottom molds came together.
There is also what is called the pontil mark on a blown glass piece. That is where the rod used during the manufacturing process is broken off after completion. Once you get used to looking for it, you’ll recognize either the lump or small point that it leaves when broken off. Many glass blowers will reheat the glass and take the time to smooth out the pontil as the final step. Glass that is blown will have a pontil, glass that is made in a form, will not.
When it comes to the highest quality blown glass, the pontil mark will be smoothed or polished to near invisibility. Many times there will be an indentation in the glass where the pontil was polished completely away. That attention to detail is usually a sign of higher quality glass and it’s something that you should be aware of as you look at pieces to buy in a glass shop or antique shop.
You Should Also Look For Imperfections
The highest quality glass will never have any leftover ash or debris trapped inside, this would be considered an imperfection and lower the value of the glass as a collectible. It can be an excellent point to use in order to get a better price on an otherwise stunning piece of artwork. Many times the ash is not easily visible, especially to the untrained eye, and the piece can still be incredibly lovely to look at on a shelf. Most of the best glass companies won’t sell glass under their name with flaws such as this.
As you go through the various glass shops and antique stores, you’ll learn what flaws and imperfections to look for. Some are not obvious except to the trained eye and even some dealers will be surprised that you’ve noticed. Still, many very beautiful pieces of art do have minor imperfections that are part of their beauty since each piece is handmade and slightly different than any other piece on earth.
Some People Are Looking For Show Pieces
There are several types of collectors, some are looking only for elegant pieces to put in a case on display and not let anyone touch them or use them ever. Other people like to show off their glass by using it for special occasions like wine tastings or dinner parties. Some pieces are functional and elegant and can be used on a regular basis.
When you lift a nice wine glass made by the best craftsman, you’ll note that it doesn’t weigh nearly half as much as molded glass will. The hand-blown glass technique can make the sides thinner while still being strong because of the way the glass is stretched as it cools. This is one of the benefits that collectors who use their glasses like to show off, the almost weightless nature of blown glass.
One fundamental way to know whether the pieces that you’re looking at are of the right durability to be used daily or at least on occasion is by the labeling. If the label says it has a special mix of raw materials and a special cooling process to enhance the durability, then it’s made for functionality and elegance. This is because there are several different minerals that can be added to the glass that will make the final product tougher.
You can also usually go by the “dishwasher safe” label to help you know that the glass is tougher, will take some abuse, and not crack at the slightest bump. Nowadays most glass is lead-free, but some of the older glass of previous decades might not be. You can safely drink from any leaded crystal glasses, but you shouldn’t store beverages in them. The long-term storage is what can leach out the lead and into your beverages.
Making Hand Blown Glass As A Hobby
There has always been an interest in blowing glass since the products you can make are extremely attractive. It also takes a certain amount of skill and practice to become good so not just anybody will be able to create masterpieces. That’s not to scare people away, almost anyone can learn to do some types of glasswork and it’s quite enjoyable.
In nearly every large city there are glass blowing classes that anyone can enroll in and learn the trade. They will supply the materials and teach you how to work the glass and then the imagination of what to make is up to you. There will be people of all ages, but many retired people have found glass blowing and glass artwork to be very satisfying.
As a hobby, you can start with a smaller torch, that will set you back about $150 to $200 that can get you started making smaller items. Smaller items are much easier to make since you have to keep everything molten as you work, and that takes some practice. Larger torches can run up to $500 or more and the most expensive seems to be around $1,300 or so. Not too bad for a hobby that can occupy your time all day long if you so desire.
Plus, once you get good at the craft, you can sell your work at the local thrift stores, craft outlets and pipe shops. There is an unlimited number of different products you can make, from marbles, pendants, and earrings, to glass mermaids for aquariums. Tobacco pipes are a hot item in many smoke shops as well.
If that sounds like something that you’d like to do, there are books you can buy online that go into much more depth and give resources for you to pursue. There are also dozens of forums where there are very helpful people that exchange information and ideas, plus offer advice on instructional materials for beginners. Lots of hand-blown glassblowers started out as a part-time hobby and turned into professionals that are hooked on the craft.
A Lot Of Hand Blown Glass Craftsmen Specialize
Many craftspeople find that they like making certain things and then they find an outlet that allows them to continue to their heart’s content. You can find plenty of ideas online, but there are also lots of good ideas that you can get just wandering around to the various shops in your area.
Not everyone will want to make nice wine glasses and there is plenty of competition in that area. On the other hand, finding some small trinket that has a high value and is easy to make might be a good side income maker that will allow you to explore other, more interesting things.
Either way, there are thousands of people around the world that blow glass for a hobby, and many more that earn a nice living making all kinds of products. By going on Pinterest and running a search, you can see many thousands of pages of blown glass artwork, enough to keep you busy for a lifetime.