Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tering the medium or burning their colleagues. After rolling the glass out
on a heat-resistant graphite table to give it the desired shape, they blow in-
to the end of the rod to open a space inside. If creating a mass-produced
item, they generally stick it into a mold to ensure the correct dimensions.
Other appendages are added; for example, if it's a wineglass with a stem
and foot, separate pieces of glass are stretched out to the appropriate shape
and stuck on the bottom.
For this entire process, the glass is at about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit.
If it gets too hot, glassblowers cool it down with water or air; if the glass
needs to be reheated, they use a blowtorch or poke it momentarily back
into the furnace. All glass begins clear. To make colored glass, they either
add powdered dye during production, or paint the finished piece and then
refireit.Finally,theareawheretheglasswasattachedtotherodiscutwith
