Interior Design and Home Accessories

by Wendy Tanner

The substance of glass typically evokes thoughts of windows, figurines, or other types of art.  But the aesthetic value of glass is just one of its qualities.  Glass actually possesses a number of features that make it ideal for various aspects of manufacturing and industry.  These industrial glasses actually come in different varieties, each specially created to offer a certain skill for a given job.  Here is a look at some of these types and how they function in the industrial world.

Network glass is known for its lack of silicates which makes it rare amongst its peer.  Its structure and lack of silicon allows it to conduct electricity.  Due to its high level of conductivity, network glass is most commonly found in fiber optic structures.  These flexible structures can transmit light and information far quicker and more efficiently than traditional copper wire.

Glass can also be created in the form of electrolytes.  These ionic mixtures are super-cooled into structures of crystal glass.  The actual chemistry is rather complicated, but the applications are of electrolytes is quite wide.  A more common application of glass electrolytes comes in the form of rechargeable batteries.  The ions present in the glass allow it to conduct electricity and actually store a certain amount of voltage.

The most interesting form of glass may occur when in the aqueous state.  This glass is actually almost liquefied.  Also known as sodium silicate, this substance is used in various cements, fire protection, and serves a number of roles for industrial purposes.  Its ability to exist as a liquid but quickly become a solid gives it a number of interesting applications, including the ability to repair metals, serve as a sealant, and quickly encompass dangerous materials or even fire.

One of the most modern forms of glass that is newly emerging is the glassy metal.  Glassy metal is produced through rapid cooling.  This glass can be sized to any surface area and as thing as the aluminum foil that can be purchased from the local grocery store.  However, compared to that aluminum foil, the glass is much more resilient.  In fact, it actually is able to withstand a great deal of force and tearing.  The expense of this type of glass leaves its widespread commercial application still in question, but it appears to serve as a long term replacement for various types of film, wires, and plastic parts (due to its ability to be molded).

With such a broad and modern selection of types, states, and applications, it is clearly time to expand the colloquial definition of glass.

A drinking cup and window pane are sufficient examples of glass only in how a Chihuahua would be a sufficient example of a dog.  As humanity travels deeper into the twenty-first century, glass is only going to grow into more roles as we continue to find ways to change its structures, chemical compounds, and applying it in ways never before discovered.  The aforementioned types are far from a complete list of glass types, which would far more room than I have here to describe.  Nonetheless, hopefully this serves as a good example of how versatile and useful the substance is.

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by JulieRed

Glass has many different uses throughout the world. One of its primary uses is to add beauty to various things that are built.

For example, an architect may design a building with interesting glass windows to add variety to a city that is normally lined with brick block buildings. An artist may include some glass in his or her final project to add meaning and depth to it.

Glass may be used in bottles for juices in order to show the texture and the clear, sparkling color. Another primary use for glass is in jewelry.

Sea glass is commonly found along the shoreline of Hawaii and California as well as in the Caribbean. This kind of glass was lost at sea and has been sanded down to a polished hue in the rough tumble of the waves.

Even though plastic and paper containers have mostly replaced glass containers for drinks, sea glass can still be easily found along these coastlines. While sea glass is still abundant in some areas, it is becoming rarer because of the decrease in use of glass.

Sometimes it can take an extra amount of effort to find pieces big enough to make jewelry with, but the search can be worth it. If you are on the hunt for certain colors can be much more difficult than simply searching for any color.

Red and orange glass pieces are particularly hard to find. White and brown glass pieces are much more common, but not as beautiful in jewelry.

The rareness of certain types of glass makes certain types more valuable among sea glass collectors. In addition to the reds and oranges, peridot, aquamarine, and opaque white are also quite rare.

The location where the glass is found can also contribute to the value of a certain piece of glass. However, how smooth the glass is, whether or not it has chips, the shape and the size contribute more to value than the location found or the color it is.

This substance is popular for jewelry because it is similar to gems in many ways. It is often transparent and captures light.

However, if you are going to follow the ways of the experienced sea glass collector, you will let pieces that are not opaque or smooth stay on the beach until it is more processed by the sea. It definitely takes time for the glass to become what is considered to be the most beautiful in jewelry when it is processed by the sea.

Sometimes it will only take months, but quite often it probably takes years to become opaque and smooth. Due to the time that it takes to create sea glass, some people find it much easier to make fake sea glass and sell it.

These people take normal glass and tumble it in a glass tumbler. This kind of sea glass lacks many qualities such as opacity, rarity, and the simple story of being tossed around in the ocean for years and years.

True sea glass jewelry makers will only use the authentic kind, they will not resort to scamming people on the fake kind. However, if you are considering making a purchase of this kind of jewelry you may want to be careful to ask whether it really came from the beach and is authentic.

One of the unique things about this kind of jewelry is that each piece is very different. It does not come from a manufactured stamp, but it each treated separately, on its own from the ocean.

Many times other gems are even added to the jewelry to enhance its value and to complement the sea tumbled glass. Due to the simple origins of the glass and to its natural look, most designs that look the best are those that are quite simple.

This allows viewers to see the sea glass and value it for what it is. More complex designs will distract the eye and take away value from the main component of the jewelry.

Due to the uniqueness of the sea tumbled glass, one of the most difficult pieces of jewelry to make is matching earrings. Color and shape are very variable and it can be a challenge to find two pieces that are similar in color, size, shape, and opaqueness.

If you are beginning your own sea glass business, you may want to examine the pieces that others have made first in order to get an idea of what kind of glass you will be looking for on the beaches. This can be a very rewarding hobby and source of income.

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by Wendy Tanner

The practice of utilizing back painted glass in home décor has become more and more common in recent years. One of the main reasons for this is the popularization of premium self-priming glass paint. These paints take the guesswork out of back painting glass. They form a permanent bond with the glass by causing a molecular change in the surface of the glass itself. No primers or special treatments are necessary. The ease at which glass can now be painted has led many homeowners to undertake the task themselves. In this article we’ll cover some tips and tricks for dealing with some challenges associated with back painting glass.

How to clean glass paint overspray off back painted glass

Cleaning paint overspray off the front or edges of a sheet of glass is a simple enough process that may require some elbow grease.

Use light steel wool to remove overspray from the edges of the glass and then use lacquer thinner to remove any on the front of it. For really thick overspray, use a single edge razor blade to scrape it and then follow up with steel wool and lacquer thinner as necessary.

How to clean glass paint from a paint gun

Once again, lacquer thinner is recommended for this job. Use it with a cloth to clean out your paint gun after each use and be sure to spray lacquer thinner through the paint gun for at least 30 seconds. And for an extra thorough clean feel free to disassemble the paint gun and clean all of the internal parts with lacquer thinner as well.

Tips on installing back painted glass

Now that you’re done painting your glass it’s time to put it on display in a way that won’t have it lying on the ground in a hundred pieces.

The industry standard for installing back-painted glass is to use clear silicone glue and double sided glaziers tape. The double sided tape serves as a temporary hold until the clear silicone glue dries. Mirror Mastic and Liquid Nails can also be used for installation.

If you need inspiration or examples on how to use back painted glass in your home then feel free to check out this glass paint gallery.

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by Wendy Tanner

Blown glass art items are of course made from blown glass. Glass blowing is a time honored technique that started during the Phoenecian era. It spread with the start and spread of the Roman Empire. Glass is made out of a variety of materials such as silica, and quartz. The products that comprise glass are heated to around 2500 degrees fahrenheit. The glass in short is tempered down to the point of cooling in stages. While the glass is still hot, and has an orange glow in heat, the glassblower will use a long metal tube to blow air into the glob of glass. Depending on the final outcome of the glass glob, this will determine how much air is inserted into the glob. The glassblower can shape the object manually. Or, the glob can be shaped by a mold. The glob will be poured into a mold, and then the air is blown so that the glob expands to fit the mold.

There are many different things that can be made into blown glass art. Many people buy things such as glasses, vases, bowls, and household trinkets. These can be bought online, or they can be bought at venues such as craft shows, fairs, or glassblowing design houses. Many people love and prize artisan blown glass art. The glass is clear in general, but the sand that is used for it can be manipulated to create color. There are many designs that employ transparent color. The glass can also be created to have a translucent, or an opaque appearance. Many people love to buy blown glass items that are multicolored. The colors will appear to bleed into each other. They are manipulated while they are still pliable. The artist will blend the colors in a way that creates optical illusions when the glass piece is dried. These are extremely lovely and intriguing to look at.

There is a special type of blown glass art to note, and that is Murano Glass. Murano is an island off of the coast of Venice, Italy. The glass that is produced here is very artistic. Recently, there has been a spike in Murano glass products that are sold in kiosk in U.S. shopping malls. The pieces that are sold in these venues are pieces of jewelry such as pendants, earrings, rings, and bracelets. The glass can be molded and colored into very complicated and intricate designs. It is very lovely to look at, and unique to wear.

Blown glass art can be made into holiday ornaments. Many people love to collect blown glass ornaments. However, these ornaments tend to be very fine and delicate. Special care should be taken with regards to the storage of these ornaments, and the care of the ornaments when they are hanging from high areas, or from tree branches. Blown glass can also be shaped into beads to make jewelry, such as earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Again, the art work that is created from them is prized, and makes for lovely statement pieces.

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by Tomasz1950

Glass painting is a remarkable form of art, comprising gorgeous synthetic colors done up on glass. The combination of glass and paints gives the painting an ethereal appeal. Glass painting is very interesting to do. Glass painting kits contain an outliner, which is meant to keep the different shades of glass paints in place. One can either unleash one’s creativity and paint freehand, or else use templates. Four main types of paints are available for glass painting: stained glass paint, vinegar trace paint, matte paint and silver paint. Each type is meant for a specific purpose. For example, if one wishes to include a variety of colors on the piece of glass, then the stained glass paint is suitable. Vinegar glass paints are appropriate when one wants to add a tint of color. However, these vinegar paints are quite sticky! For painting a clear glass vase or bowls, one can use silver paint, as it adds a hint of silver, thereby giving a translucent effect to the painting. Matte paint on the other hand is useful when one wants complete coverage without translucent aspects.

Glass Painting Instructions and Tips

Glass painting is quite easy to learn, and can be done without many hassles. Keeping a few glass painting tips in mind before the commencement of the glass painting project will prove beneficial. Some of the useful glass painting tips are as follows:

The piece of glass chosen for glass painting should have a smooth, plain and clear surface. Printed glass and designed surfaces should not be used, as the painting will not be prominent then. Since natural oils from the hands tend to smudge the glass surface, it is advisable to put on surgical or latex gloves while handling the glass piece.
The glass surface should be cleaned adequately to free it from dust and dirt. The glass paint will fail to stick on a dusty surface. One should make use of warm water and soap to clean the surface of the glass. The glass surface should be thoroughly dried using a paper towel or clean cloth.
People not confident about freehand painting can trace the design on a sheet of drawing paper and then tape it to the inside of the glass piece. Make sure the piece of paper chosen is the same size as the glass piece. This is one of the easiest glass painting techniques, as once the picture has been taped, all one requires to do is paint, using the traced paper below as a reference. People using freehand style should place a white cloth or paper below the glass for clarity while painting.

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by echoesofstars

Elegant or whimsical, simple or ornate, colorful or airy and transparent, Murano glass necklaces are pieces of jewelry that would make you stand out in any crowd. Each bead, each strand of seeds, are made by hand. They are pieces of exquisite art, made by glass artists in Murano, in Italy, and now coveted by every woman who appreciates jewelry that is artistic, unique and feminine.

Glass beads have been made by various peoples and tribes around the world for thousands of years. They were, and still are, decorating the necks of ladies of Masai in Africa, of Dayak tribe in Borneo or of Hopi Indians in the New World. They look like drops of sparkling light, woven, blown, strung, melted or imbedded, combined in thousands of forms and shapes. But, nobody makes beads so beautifully as glass artists in Murano.

Murano glass artists have been making glass jewelry for almost thousand years.

This small island in the Venetian lagoon has been home to the most famous glass artists for centuries and the glass jewelry coming from Murano has always been coveted and admired, never to go out of fashion.

Glass necklaces from Murano are made in thousands of shapes, in the infinite combination of beads, gold and silver, each unique and perfect. Each bead is a piece of art in itself, made by blowing drops of glass to create delicate colorful or transparent orbs, often imbedded with speckles of gold or silver. Some beads are large, with swirls of colors or layers of texture. Others are tiny and delicate, soft and smooth, strung together like a waterfall of colorful light. There are chokers, made of a string of tiny seed beads, with one large, outstanding piece of glass. Others are whimsical, eccentric combination of beads of different colors, shapes and sizes.

Modern, traditional, elegant or ornate, Murano glass necklaces are pieces of art that would stand out on any beautiful neck, in any social situation or setting.

Murano glass artists invented most of glass making techniques that are today used by artists all over the world. Technology made making glass easier and faster, but the artistry of it remained the same for thousands of years.  All these old, traditional techniques are used today to make superb beads of all colors of the rainbow.

Whether millefiori (thousands flowers), or intricate filigrana, each Murano glass bead is unique in itself. Placed in exquisite glass necklaces, they are true pieces of art.

A delicate glass necklace works well with any wardrobe. You can wear an elegant glass necklace with tiny glass beads and one large, superb ruby red delicately inlaid bead with a black evening gowns. You can wear a silver choker with one brilliant millefiori bead with your jeans and a sweater. Even the simplest outfit will stand out with a colorful glass necklace. Black or grey clothes can get just a touch of playfulness with a sparkling bead necklace. Flowery dress will not be overpowered by a light, delicate and feminine glass necklace with just one cobalt blue bead.

Wearing a Murano glass necklace means making a statement: I am unique, and I do not take myself too seriously; I love beauty, but I do not need diamonds; I love art, and I appreciate tradition. Once you own a true, original Murano glass necklace, you are joining the women of superb taste of the past centuries, who knew how to use the beauty of glass to enhance the beauty of their own.

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by foodchronicles

Create contemporary jewellery items using gorgeous glass beads

Looking for inspiration for your latest jewellery designs? Have a look at the diverse range of Glass Beads, Wooden Beads or Crystal Beads that you could use within your new designs. With so many different styles, and colours of Glass Beads available theres no shortage of wonderful beaded products to pick and choose.

Create the most amazing items of jewellery with stunning Glass Beads handmade for your pleasure. These quality products are cut in a number of shapes of sizes ready to fashion as you like.

Theres no need to lack inspiration when so many Glass Beads are available that are suitable for necklaces, earrings or bespoke bracelets.

Dreamy designs

Thinking of creating a whole new range of beaded jewellery? Planning to sell your wares at the next arts and crafts fair? Be original, be outstanding and incorporate Glass Beads within the designs along with Wooden Beads and Crystal Beads as well.

Source all of your Glass Beads though a one stop store that sells beads and findings online. They stock a massive range of Glass Beads at the best possible prices, perfect for an avid jewellery maker.

Save money as you search for stunning Glass Beads and make huge savings by sourcing your base materials online. The most beautiful beads are in stock right now and theyll be perfect for your next jewellery project.

Make it for leisure, make it for pleasure

Love jewellery with a passion? Have you thought about creating your own? Possibly not, but with a bit or practice you could be making the most amazing collections of jewellery using Glass Beads, Wooden Beads or Crystal Beads.

Why stick with the mundane when you can be as daring as you like with own fashionable designs. See for yourself the huge selection of Glass Beads that could be used in creating your very specialist jewellery.

Whether you want to make jewellery for your own pleasure or youre thinking of selling it through an internet site, make sure you use fine quality Glass Beads that are priced for a competitive market.

Gorgeous Glass Beads come in numerous styles and designs, pick the base materials that can bring your jewellery projects to life.

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by jcolman

Hellenistic Glass
The Hellenistic period chronologically covers the conquests of Alexander the Great (356-323 BC), the fall of the Persian Empire, in particular, the Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BC) and, finally, the beginning of the expansion of the Roman Empire (second half of the 1st c. BC – 476 AD aprox.) in the Mediterranean and the surrounding regions in Europe, western Asia and northern Africa as well.
Glass production was stimulated by the intention of imitating precious and semi-precious stones, as well as rock crystal (from the introduction of translucent or transparent glass onwards) (Goldstein 1979). Glass vessels were made after the forms and types of metal and ceramic contemporary vessels (Grose 1989). However, apart from stylistic cohesion, glass industry at all times has to be treated on its own right in terms of the material itself, technological processes and the end-products.
Hellenistic glass industry was a craft based on previous technological tradition of the Classical period and even the Late Bronze Age (Harden 1969; Grose 1981; Grose 1989). However, despite the deep rooted bonds with the past, a distinct break was made by Hellenistic craftsmen and new manufacturing techniques and types of vessels and other objects were introduced these three centuries preceding the invention of glassblowing. Perhaps the most important feature of the glass industry of this period was the transition from a limited production of luxury objects consumed by the elite strata of the society to the mass production of affordable glass vessels used by the broader public to satisfy everyday needs (Goldstein 1979; Grose 1984).
Glass Vessels
The core-formed glass vessels in the Mediterranean, from 525 to 50 BC, were the most numerous and widespread (Tatton-Brown and Andrews 2004). Nonetheless, the core-forming manufacturing technique is the best represented in the archaeological record and, most probably, the earliest technique employed (Goldstein 1979). The production of the core-formed type (see also Glassmaking Techniques) in the second half of the 1st mil. BC is divided in three groups, namely Mediterranean Group I (525-450 BC), II (325-200 BC) and III (150-50 BC), and only the first group belongs to the Classical period. The distinction made is based on a combination of changes in vessel types produced and in decoration patterns, as well as on the limited number of archaeological finds from the intermediate periods (Harden 1981).
Core-formed vessels were generally small in size, close vessels, always opaque in aspect, and designed to contain mainly perfumes, scented oils and cosmetics (Tatton-Brown and Andrews 2004). Most common shapes among core-formed vessels were alabastra, amphoriskoi, aryballoi and lentoid aryballoi, oinochoai (jugs), and for the first time in the Hellenistic period hudriskai (three-handled flasks) and unguentaria (unguent bottles) (Fossing 1940).
During the second half of the 3rd c. BC a new type of glass vessels, that of mosaic glass, emerged in the Hellenistic world. They are also called illefiori (=thousand flowers) because of the decorative impression of the technique. The group of mosaic glass consists mostly of fused and slumped broad plates and shallow dishes with upright or out-splayed rims or hemispherical bowls. Sub-groups of mosaic glass production are etwork or acework hemispherical bowls and vessels with meandering or spiral decorative patterns that imitate onyx. Often these bowls had a rim formed of a single etwork cane of spirally twisted threads which gives a triped effect (Tatton-Brown and Andrews 2004). It is best represented in burial contexts from several large tombs in Canosa di Puglia (ancient Canusium) in Italy (Grose 1989). They are open vessels since they are made with a mould but still opaque, like the widely produced core-formed vessels.
The origins of the mosaic glassworking technique are traced back in the 15th c. BC in the Mesopotamian glassmaking centres, such as Tell-al-Rimah, Aqar Qf and Marlik. Although the mosaic technique at the time was practiced in a desultory way, it is the predecessor of the elaborated mosaic vessels of high quality of the Alexandrian workshops, after the foundation of the city of Alexandria in Egypt in 332 BC by Alexander the Great, which is said to be the main production centre of these vessels (Harden 1969; Goldstein 1979).
By the early 2nd c. BC, monochrome drinking vessels, mainly hemispherical and sub-conical bowls were introduced. They were made in considerable quantities in the Syro-Palestinean coast and were widely traded and exported to several trading centres throughout the Mediterranean. Earlier examples were made of clear greenish, brownish or almost colourless glass, while later on they often had green, amber, blue or wine-purple colour. Usually, they were decorated with linear-cut concentric circles at the bottom or right under the rim either on the inside or the outside (Tatton-Brown and Andrews 2004). They were made in an open mould, which is in fact a relatively cheap technique that requires less effort put and it was this that allowed their large-scale production.
Within the production of these drinking vessels, from the mid-2nd c. BC onwards, translucent or transparent glass tableware (plates, dishes, bowls, drinking vessels, such as skyphoi, footed bowls or handled cups) was introduced; glass tableware production once established enjoyed several glassworking centres and contributed in the dramatic increase of the Hellenistic glass industry (Grose 1981; Grose 1984; Tatton-Brown and Andrews 2004). This was the first time that glass vessels were widely consumed by the broader public as a widespread commodity, something that continued ever since and was achieved in a higher degree with the invention of the even more economical glassblowing technique.
During the 1st c. BC, new types of monochrome glass vessels were introduced and ribbed bowls started to be produced. They were mould-press bowls with ribs on the outside and their production centres were concentrated in the Levantine region and the Syro-Palestinean coast, like the monochrome hemispherical/conical bowls.
However, the production of luxury glass vessels did not cease and glass vessels imitating precious metal vessels (gold- and silver-ware) were produced with new glassworking techniques to satisfy the needs of the elite social strata market. Gold-sandwich glass vessels and gold-band alabastra were innovations of the late Hellenistic period addressed to a more limited range of wealthy customers. The manufacturing techniques were the same, namely the mould-press and core-form mosaic techniques respectively (Harden 1969; Grose 1989). However, they were developed further more in order to achieve a quite elaborate decorative aspect.
Other Glass Objects
Hellenistic glass industry included also a range of other objects, mainly for decorative purposes. The broadest groups of glass objects were these of glass beads and inlays, like in all periods since the introduction of glassmaking in the ancient world. The mass production of glass beads of many varieties is well represented in the context of a Hellenistic glass workshop in Rhodes, where 10,000 beads of 40 different shapes and colours have been found (Weinberg 1983; Triantafyllidis 2002). Rings, pendants, gemstones, amulets, small sculptures were also made with the mould-casting technique (Grose 1989).
Inlays were produced to decorate wooden articles, furniture, chests, sarcophagi and jewellery in combination with other, often precious materials, such as gold leaf or ivory (Ignatiadou 2002). For example, glass inlays decorated the ionic capitals of north porch of the Erechtheion in the Athenian Acropolis (Stern 1999). Inlays were deeply rooted in the Egyptian glassmaking industry and their production, with the mosaic technique after the Pharaonic tradition, continued to flourish during the Hellenistic period with old or new repertories inspired from the Greek world (Nenna 2002). Game counters and gaming pieces were made also as one way to recycle scrap glass left over from the manufacture of other articles (Ignatiadou 2002).
Like in many other occasions, these objects are well represented and archaeologically found along with various types of glass vessels in rich burial contexts, e.g. this of Amphipolis (Romiopoulou 2002).
Glassmaking and Primary Production Centres
Glassmaking and glassworking were considered two totally separate crafts and took place in different regions (Grose 1981). Each craft was characterized by its own technological tradition, know-how and equipment. Glassmakers and glassworkers did not need to have an understanding of glass vessel manufacture and primary production respectively, in order to carry out their tasks (Stern 1999).
Glassmaking had to take place as close as possible to the sources of the raw materials used, namely sand and mineral natron when it comes to the Hellenistic period (Shortland et al. 2006). Raw glass was traded throughout the Mediterranean in the form of ingots (Stern 1999) and it was then worked and shaped into vessels, inlays, jewellery, etc., in numerous sites of the Hellenistic world.
Hellenistic glass is the typical soda-lime-silica glass, to which lime was not intentionally added, but it was provided through the agent of sand (Turner 1956a). Although, it cannot be argued with certainty where the Hellenistic primary production of raw glass was geographically located from the archaeological record, we can hypothesize that a large part of glass production took place in the Syro-Palestinian coast or the broader Levantine region and Egypt . In favor of this argument are comments of classical writers of the period or a little later, like Strabo (63 BC) who mentioned river Belus on the Syrian coast to have been used for glassmaking or even by writers other such as Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) or Tacitus (ca. 56-ca. 117 AD) (Turner 1956b). However, archaeological evidence firmly indicate that primary production of glass, as well as glassworking took place on the island of Rhodes in the Aegean, during the Hellenistic period and, particularly, after the foundation of the city of Rhodes in 408 BC, and even earlier through the Classical period (Weinberg 1983; Triantafyllidis 1998; Rehren 2005).
Glassworking Centres and Spatial Distribution
As it is already argued, glassworking took place in several centres of the Hellenistic world. Raw glass was brought to glassworkers in the form of ingots, except from the Rhodian workshop which included both glassmaking and glassworking, and in turn they produced glass vessels, inlays, jewellery, etc., which were then widely traded. Although most probably core-formed vessels were traded for their content, mosaic or monochrome and transparent tableware were traded per se. Major glassworking centres were located at the Syro-Palestinean coast, e.g. monochrome hemispherical bowls, and in Alexandria, since its foundation in 332 BC, e.g. mosaic glass vessels and inlays (Nenna 2002). The reputation of the Alexandrian workshop is well understood from luxury glass vessels decorated with Egyptian-style buildings or characteristic scenes found as far as Italy and Afghanistan or, even, produced there (Auth 2001). Glass vessels, both core-formed and mould-press, were also made in Ionia, Cyprus, Sidon, the Levant, Tel Anafa in Upper Galilee, Rome and Roman Italy, Crete, Macedonia (Grose 1981; Grose 1984; Barag 1985; Ignatiadou 2002; Jennings 2002).
Particularly interesting is the core-formed vessels trade and spatial distribution, since this was the group produced throughout the Hellenistic period from its very beginning to the invention of glassblowing (ca. 50 BC). Core-formed bottles, along with other types of glass vessels, are found throughout the Mediterranean in the Aegean (e.g. Delos, Crete, Athens), throughout Greece, Asia Minor and western Asia (e.g. Ephesus, Sardis, Dura-Europos, Babylon, Nimrud, Nineveh, the Levant, Phoenicia), Magna Greacia (e.g. Rhegium, Morgantina) and Italy, Mesopotamia, the Balkans, Russia, the transalpine lands, Spain (Emporion) and the Balearics, northern Africa (Carthage) and Cerne on the Atlantic coast of Africa (Harden 1956; Harden 1969; Harden 1981; Grose 1984; Barag 1985; Jennings 2002).
Glassworking Techniques
e must never consider any technology in antiquity to have been a single process without variations Goldstein 1979
Glass production of vessels or other glass objects was mainly of two distinct technological traditions, these of core-formed glass and mould-press or cast glass (Grose 1981). A lot of work has been done trying to understand how these techniques were actually employed (Harden 1956; Harden 1969; Goldstein 1979; Grose 1981; Harden 1981; Frank 1982; Grose 1984; Tatton-Brown and Andrews 2004; Gudenrath 2004)
Core-formed glass: is the best represented and probably the earliest manufacturing technique applied. First, a core with the bottle shape was shaped around a metallic rod most probably by a combination of clay, sand, mud and/or animal dung. Then, molten glass was either trailed onto the core with the aid of a second tool or directly from dipping it into a container of molten glass. The surface was smoothed by continual re-heating and rolling on a flat slab. Finally, vessels were removed from the metallic rod, they slowly cooled down in a side chamber of the glass melting furnace and, then, the core material was scraped out of the interior. Common body colours were translucent dark or cobalt blue, opaque white, brown, red or olive-green and of the decoration opaque yellow, orange, white or turquoise trails in zigzag or feather patterns. This technique limited considerably the size of the vessels, which were mainly close vessels with thick walls.
Mould-press or cast glass: it was first practiced by the Hellenistic glassworkers from the 3rd c. BC onwards. Although different decorative results were achieved by variations in colours, the technique was virtually the same for mosaic, monochrome hemispherical bowls, transparent tableware and gold-sandwich vessels, both luxurious fine ware and more affordable types. Mould-press or cast vessels were mainly open bowls, shallow dishes and jars, but some closed vessels were produced as well. They were made from a single mould on which a piece of glass was slumped.
Mosaic glass: vessels, namely bowls and plates, as well as inlays were produced with the mosaic technique. A multicoloured effect is achieved as a result of a variety of diverse cane configurations and colour combinations fused together and then slumped on an open mould.
etwork: a type of mosaic glass made of canes of spirally twisted glass threads of different colours laid side by side.
Gold-sandwich glass: also found for the first time during the Hellenistic period. It technique consists of a andwich of two decolorized glass layers which enclose a sheet of gold leaf between them. The vessels were formed of two castings and they were carefully ground and polished.
Cold-cutting: grinding and polishing by the application of stone-cutting techniques and by using harder materials, such us quartz. It was used as a supplementary technique to other processes as finishing and decoration.
References
Ashton, S.A., 2008. Ptolemaic and Roman Memphis as a Production Centre. In: Martinon-Torres, M. and Rehren, Th. (eds), Archaeology, History and Science; integrating approaches to ancient materials. Walnut Creek: Left Coast Press, CA, 101-115.
Auth, S.H., 2001. Luxury Glasses with Alexandrian Motifs. Journal of Glass Studies 43, 39-44.
Barag, D., 1985. Catalogue of Western Asiatic Glass in the British Museum, vol. I. London: British Museum Press.
Cummings, K., 2002. A History of Glassworking. London: A&C Black.
Fossing, P., 1940. Glass Vessels before Glass-Blowing. Copenhagen: Ejnar Munksgaard.
Frank, S., 1982. Glass and Archaeology. London: Academic Press.
Goldstein, S.M., 1979. Pre-Roman and Early Roman Glass in the Corning Museum of Glass, New York.
Grose, D.F., 1981. Hellenistic Glass Industry Reconsidered. Annales du 8e Congres de l Association International pour l Histoire du Verre, 61-72.
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by Tomasz1950

The only way to keep your belongings and valuables completely safe is to wrap them in cotton wool and ring-fence your house with a projectile-defying brick wall and electric fence. But then again, what sort of existence is that?

Indeed, accidents will always happen and whether it’s a neighbourhood kid booting a ball into your greenhouse or a gale-force wind dislodging an elm tree into your bathroom window, you have to adopt a somewhat matter-of-fact attitude to your misfortune – shrug your shoulders and get on with life.

Indeed, if you are unlucky enough to experience broken windows in your home, your first concern should be your safety. Shattered or broken glass poses some health issues and if you’re planning on clearing shards of glass from the ground, make sure you have thick, padded gloves on to collect the biggest pieces and a broom and dustpan for the smaller pieces.

Your next concern should be the repair.

Home glass replacement is an activity that can be lumped in with the likes of electrical rewiring and sink-fitting – it really is best left to the experts, so don’t be a have-a-go hero when it comes to replacing a broken window.

If a window in your home suffers a slight crack, don’t be tempted by the masking tape option either – once a crack is there, the whole pane of glass is weakened and it’s more susceptible to shattering.

If you could choose a time for your windows to break, then that would be the ideal scenario – and you might choose a Monday afternoon when you just happen to be off work: a quick call to the local glaziers and have it replaced in a couple of hours.

Fate doesn’t work like that – your windows can break at any time of day, which is why many window glass repair services are operational 24/7.

With some things, it’s really best not to cut corners. If you needed a new fuse-box fitted in your kitchen, the chances are you wouldn’t attempt it yourself and you would go with a reputable electrician who is fully indemnified – if anything goes wrong you could otherwise be in trouble.

The same principles apply when fitting new glass in your home: check that the workmanship is fully guaranteed and that the people installing it are fully covered should anything go wrong. It makes sense and it could save you a lot of money in the long run.

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by KKaZZ Designs

Want to give a room a beautiful look without changing much of it interior? Then how about using decorative window glass? Decorative window glasses are available in many styles, designs and colors.

The best thing about these glasses is that they are extremely easy to install and maintain. They can be installed in any room, including kitchen, bathrooms and lobby to create a sense of privacy as well as ambience. Hotels and restaurants also use them extensively as well as stores and shops.

However, the most extensive use of decorative window glass is in homes. They create partition between two parts of the house without making it too congested and dark. Transparent and translucent glass creates a sense of space, provides ample light, while creating partition. Hence, these are great for kitchens and bathroom.

However, decorative window glasses are not just for cosmetic purposes.

Frosted and tinted glass can also keep you healthy. Most people think that while indoors, they don’t have to worry about their skin. But experts tell us that the sunlight coming from our windows and glass doors is enough to harm us. These days, special glass is available that can stop harmful UV rays from entering your home. This can not only keep you and your family’s skin young, but also reduce the risk of various skin diseases, including skin cancer.

In addition, this type of glass also helps to keep your home cool and clean. It stops the sunlight from entering your home and hence reduces the affect of outer heat. You can save a lot of money on air conditioning during those scorching summer months and also help the environment by reducing your energy consumption. They keep your house clean by ensuring that you get a good view of the outer world, while stopping bugs and dirt from entering your home.

Therefore, if you are want to create a healthy atmosphere in your home without making the space look small and closed, and then choose designer window glass.

You can choose the color and design of the glass according to the interior of the house. For example, if you have an earthy and informal feel to a room, you can use frosted colorless color to compliment the room.

Decorative window glasses have become a rage in interior designing. The sheer number of designs and versatility that they provide has made them a favorite of people who want a classy, beautiful home.

Gordons Glass & Mirror for decorative glass and glass repair services.

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