Blown Glass Gifts: Present-Day Products Keeping the Ancient Technique Alive When the human beings first discovered how to melt glass and how to use it to create beautiful glass items, a lot of things changed. Hand blown glass has always been appreciated for its uniqueness and beauty. Blowing glass is an ancient technique based on skill and knowledge. It is an ability to work on this material and shape beautiful items which are exclusive and appreciated by everyone. The beauty of hand blown glass objects is such that no two pieces are alike. The history of blowing glass started somewhere in the 1 st century BC. Then for the centuries that followed, the art grew continuously. In the beginning, the technique was generally implemented for utility articles. However,when the Murano glass industry flourished, glass blowing grew into a different direction altogether. It developed the characteristics of art. These days, many art schools and universities have included glass blowing in their syllabus. On account of the higher demand for glass blowers in different industries, many people have takenit as a career option as well. They are known as scientific blowers. But, there are many people who consider it a type of creative art. They create blown glass objects for their art galleries and museums.
Technique of Blowing Glass Silica is the main component of glass. At about 2000 degree Fahrenheit, silica is melted in a furnace. The molten silica becomes the liquid glass. This is further placed on the tip of blow pipe. The blower slowly blows into it producing a blob. This blob is then shaped by using different tools or molds. Adding Color to the Glass Different forms of colored glass such as frits, bars and powders are used to create various patterns and shapes. The glassmakers take the heatedglass on the blow pipe and roll it on the color. Then they go into the glory hole where the colored glasses are heated to melt into the clear.