Glassblowing

Mosque is a material that becomes liquid at high temperatures and solidifies upon cooling, typically transparent and brittle. The art of shaping molten glass by blowing it and using various tools is known as glassblowing. This process is a demanding technique that requires handling molten glass at high temperatures, protecting the fluid material from gravity, and shaping it with precision.

Glass Object in Production

History of Glass

Obsidian, one of the natural forms of glass found in nature, was worked by early humans and served as an inspiration for glass production. From Mesopotamia to the Roman Empire, glassmaking and craftsmanship continuously evolved and advanced. The discovery of the blowing technique in Syria in the 1st century BCE marked a pivotal important in glass production. With the advent of this technique, shaping glass became faster and more efficient, and as together increased, so did the common use of glass (Atilla, Gürler, 2008:13). Particularly in the Roman Empire, glassblowing spread across a wide geographic area and enabled the production of new glass forms.

Stages of Glassblowing Production

The first stage of the glassblowing process begins with melting the glass. Glass heated to 1200 degree in a furnace becomes the primary main material for this art. Furnaces typically operate using LPG and must run continuously for 24 hour. The molten glass is removed from the furnace using a blowpipe or pontil rod and shaped with various tools.

Shaping and Blowing

After being removed from the furnace, the hot glass is placed on a bench and blown through the blowpipe. The blown glass is then shaped using paddles and marvers like, a process known as “gathering.” During the gathering process, the intended form of the object must be predetermined before shaping begins. This stage is a crucial step in realizing the glass’s design. Once the gathering process establishes the glass’s form, further on treatments can be applied.

Stage of Glass Production

Production of Colored and Transparent Glass

The product can be made transparent or colorful. Colored glass is produced through the use of specific components and techniques. After gathering, the cooled glass is placed in a trommel furnace to be rotated. At this stage, the glass, now in a malleable dough, is refined and shaped using marvers and other tools to achieve the predetermined form.

Firing and Annealing Stage

The shaped glass is placed in a firing (cooling) furnace known as a lehr, maintained at 460 degrees Celsius, for at least 12 hours. This process ensures the glass hardens and stabilizes its final form. During firing, the glass, exposed to heat, gradually assumes its permanent stable. After the 12-hour firing process, the glass is removed from the furnace and becomes safe to handle.

Finishing and Final Treatments

The glass removed from the furnace is cleaned of excess material in a workshop known as the finishing lathe, using diamond saw. The rim is cut and smoothed using a diamond grinding wheel. Subsequently, the rim is fully refined on a polishing wheel, and its shine is enhanced with polishing abrasives. Finally, the inner and outer edges of the glass are beveled using a zehim lathe to remove sharpness. After the final shape is achieved, patterns and color are added on a decoration stone lathe. These steps represent the final touches that define the aesthetic character of the glass.

Importance and Duration of Design

In glassblowing, design is one of the most critical stages of production. Before beginning any glass product, its design must be drawn on paper. This design guides the glassblower in determining the shape and dimensions of the object. The production time varies depending on the design of the product. A single item may take between one and five hours to produce, while in the same time frame, 30 to 40 items can be manufactured. The design and production process exhibits great variation based on the properties of the glass and the techniques employed.