The Beauty of Glass: A Deeper Dive into the Artistry of Glass Ornaments
Do you ever wonder just how are those glass ornaments that you love to hang on your tree are made? Many people don’t think twice about the real artistry that goes into making glass ornaments. But, believe it or not, this was once thought to be an art. While there may be more of a factory line now to make these glass ornaments, the artistry is not lost when you see how beautiful these glass ornaments turn out to be on your trees.
Glass ornaments were first invented in 1847 by Hans Greiner who started making these ornaments in the shapes of fruits and nuts. After all, these were what people were hanging on their trees at the time. The process in which Hans used was unique, and it was a hand-blown process that he used in combination with molds to make these glass ornaments. It is a long process, but it does allow you to end up with glass ornaments that are simply gorgeous.
How are Glass Ornaments Created Today?
But, how are glass ornaments created today? Are they still something that is hand blown and each piece is done individually? No, that is no longer how they do things, but the way in which glass ornaments are made today is going to pay homage to the way it was done years ago.
To start, the artists will design the type of ornament that they are wanting out of plaster. At first, this plaster mold is going to be in the exactly shape as the ornament will end up being. However, once the detail is done, they then split this mold so it is hollow on the inside to allow the glass to be poured into the ornament mold.
The original glass that is being used is often something that has a wider end and a stick from it. The wider end is placed on fire in order to melt this for several minutes. The pipe end is then blown into to allow the glass to be put into a bubble ornament, or what other shape that the person may need to be placed into the mold. The mold is going to be sitting there, and while this bulb is still hot from the flame, it is then pressed into the mold. Since the glass is so hot is is bendable which allows it to conform to the mold that has been created.
After some time has passed and the mold is completed, it is then moved to the side of the process in which color and design is added. The molds that have been made are very intricate in that all the little design options are being seen. Those who paint these are going to have an original to go by, which helps to ensure that these are all uniform in how they appear.
Once you realize all the work that goes into making these glass ornaments, it makes you appreciate them all that much more. These are not something that is being pressed on a factory line to make thousands of, it is a thoughtful and artistic process.