Custom Demo

Ever wondered how a custom glass piece is hand-crafted?

Here is a demo of a custom 20" tall x 6" dia. cylinder for lighting being made.

Starting with a cased white base glass (overlay)

Adding a mottled white layer of frit.

A layer of clear covers the white and is hand-formed into a smooth shape.

The hot layer of glass is also shaped on a metal table called a 'marver'.

A final layer of 2200 degree molten glass is gathered from the furnace.

Hand-forming the glass to even out the heated layers.

Reheating the glass to working temperature.

The hot glass is expanded with air and shaped on the marver.

Cylinder bottom is flattened with wood tool.

Glass needs to be reheated between each step to keep it molten.

Final hand-shaping of bottom.

Heating the break-off point before pipe is removed.

Punty is attached.

Reheating before opening pipe end.

Opening hot end into cylinder shape.

Hand-forming open end of cylinder.

Keeping everything hot while shape is formed.

More heat!

Sidewalls of cylinder are smoothed into final shape on marver.

Final shaping and checking for proper diameter.

Final piece, after bottom is cut off and cylinder is cut in half and side holes for mounting finished 18" x 3" x 6" sconce are drilled.

With this hand-forming method, even complex shapes can be made to order in any

size or quantity with no expensive and time-delaying molds required.

Special thanks to Joe Tanner for the great pictures!