An old Craftwork from the 17th Century
While in the US and in Canada glassblowing as a matter of course is part of art studies, glass art over here often gets discounted as kitsch. To change this situation in Berlin there are, for example, associations like the Berlin Glass Association that want to establish the glassblowing as part of contemporary art.
Glassblowers manufacture many things. For example, with the glassblowing technique one can develop artistic household decoration items, neon tubes for neon advertising signs, thermometers, laboratory equipment and small vessels. Glassblowing is also very popular for Christmas balls. In contrast to the glassmakers, who also blow glass, the glassblowers work "in front of the lamp", so to say at the open burner.
Already in the 17th century especially the Italians created masterful glassblower pieces. "Glassblowing in front of the lamp" takes its name from this period. In those days, the glass rods were heated with an oil lamp with bellows to can shape the softened glass this way to ornate beads, figurines or other decorative objects.
Nowadays, the oil lamp is replaced by a gas burner. Today's devices run with compressed air and oxygen, to form objects at temperatures of up to 2500 degrees Celsius. Many opportunities arise for the artist based on the new manufacturing processes. They may vary in temperature by the controlled supply of pressurized air and oxygen, or also affect the flame in a way so that either an oxidizing or reducing action results. The various chemical reactions of the excipients used in the glass then lead to different surface effects. This opens up the glassblower countless opportunities to let fascinating glass art arise.
The glassblower´s work tools are the aforementioned table, hand or long burner with gas and air supply. Coal or metal reamer also belong to crafts such as glass cutters, lathes, tweezers or special structural tongs. Glassblowing in many countries is a professional education or is taught in the context of art studies. However, there are many glassblowing courses available in many cities, also for interested laymen.
