Glass blowing

We are working with a fantastic workshop in Poland for our glass products. The glass blowing process they use is called mould-blowing. A glob of molten glass is placed on the end of a blowpipe and then carefully lowered into a timber mould that has been soaked in water. The blower then rotates the glass globe whilst inflating it inside the mould. One of the more difficult aspects of the process is knowing when the shape needs to be removed from the mould as the blower cannot see how it is progressing inside the wood. Once ready, the mould is opened and the glass is placed into a furnace to slowly reduce the temperature down from 800 degrees centigrade to ensure it does not cool too quickly and crack.

It’s a dramatic process to watch with plumes of smoke and flames emerging from the timber mould. It produces very beautiful products, each slightly different in weight and feel.