The Exquisite Art of Hand-Blown Glassware
October 07, 2023
Can you believe that the glass cups we use daily are actually blown into shape? I was quite astonished when I first heard about it. Upon further understanding, I realized that hand-blowing glassware is indeed a unique skill. In a glass production factory, the hand-blown glass workshop is undoubtedly the hottest, with the glass furnace needing to be constantly heated to 1500°C.
Before blowing the glass, the blowpipe needs to be preheated to facilitate the collection of glass solution from the furnace. Collecting the material is the critical first step, entirely dependent on the worker's experience and touch. The amount of material used depends on the size of the container to be blown. If too much material is collected for a small container, the finished product will be too thick and less aesthetically pleasing.
During the blowing process, the worker needs to blow while rapidly rotating the blowpipe, allowing the glass blank to evenly receive force in the mold and form. For some irregularly shaped glassware, there are no molds, and everything depends on the individual skills of the craftsman.
Once the body of the cup has taken shape, more material is collected, preparing for the 'necking' - the most difficult part of the hand-blown stemware process. Once the glass solution comes into contact with air, it cools down very quickly. The worker must continuously rotate the glass cup with one hand, while swiftly and steadily 'necking' with tongs in the other. Skilled workers will not let a cup stay in their hands for more than 10 seconds, and they have full control over the length and thickness of the neck.
Xi'an ATO International Co., Ltd