To observe a working glassmaker is always nice to see, we are going to try to explain to you the differences states to make a unique Glass piece.
Arnold Cognier, Main glassmaker in the area of Grasse, starts by making an amalgamate glass in a 900° C oven. He takes a small quantity with his cane, and forms a small incandescent ball, which he rolls on a cast iron table, called "marble", then breath immediately into the cane to start to give a form. As a drawing, it is a first outline. Then It powders the glass with a layer of potash then takes a second part of an incandescent glass, a ball of glass and makes the whole turning, still into fusion, in a wet piece of wood which is called, "mailloche", the carbonate of potash breaks up and releases from the carbon, the dioxide which will be remain prisoner of the glass and will form the bubbles, He slowly blows and turns into the cane glass, until he obtains the wanted shape, with a metal grip he gives it the perfect shape; and then adds the details as nozzle, handle... and finally, when the piece is finished and cooled enough it detaches the part of its blowing cane . Easy will you say? To obtain a knowledge as a Master glassmaker one should take at least 10 years of studies and experience and also a great heat resistance! All these items are Hand French Craft. |