23/10/21
St Helens World of Glass
I signed up for this introduction to glass blowing course at the St Helens World of Glass. Although I am not going to be the glass maker during this development time, I wanted to experience the glass making for myself. This has definitely helped me to understand the different techniques and process, so when I am discussing things with Ian I can visualise and comprehend each stage much better.
I was lucky to have a one-to-one session with glass maker Nicola Steel @nikisteelglassdesign Niki took the time to explain all the different elements to making a glass paperweight and a blown glass bauble. I documented her process before having a go myself.
I was surprised at how physical it was, from collecting the molten glass to re-heating and manipulating the glass. It has certainly given me a greater appreciation at the extreme patience, tenacity and dexterity it requires to master this ancient glass forming technique.
The piece begins: Niki Steele reaches inside the furnace (1095 degrees) and into the crucible that is filled with clear, melted glass and gathers a layer of molten glass on the end of a steel blow pipe.
Resting the pipe on the steel arms of the bench, turning it with one hand. With the other hand the artist uses tools such as cherry wood blocks, wet newspaper, wooden paddles and tools made of stainless steel. This process requires perfect coordination between right and left hands and constant motion.
Taking the heated glass on the blow pipe and rolling it over the coloured powder and frits, picking up pieces with each roll.
Back to the Glory Hole (1200 degrees) where the coloured glass is heated to melt into the clear. Again, the glass blower keeps turning the pipe to keep the shape at the end of the pole.
The process of heating and turning in the Glory Hole and shaping at the bench will be repeated many times.
Shaping the glass with jacks as it is rotated at the workbench
The actual blowing begins. It starts with a puff on the end of the blow pipe to create a bubble. Then it’s back to the Glory Hole for more heating and turning., then back to the bench for more shaping. This cycle gets repeated many times, depending on the size and shape desired.
Removing the piece from the punty. The blower takes the punty and hits it firmly so that the piece drops off into a box that is filled with thick layers of fire blanket.
After taking a small gather of clear glass from the furnace, the molten glass is added to the blown piece and then cut and shaped into a hook shape with shears.
The scorching-hot glass is transferred to an annealing oven. This oven is kept at 500 degrees and then cooled down over a period of 14 hours to room temperature. This slow cooling down is to prevent the piece from cracking or breaking. Any sharp edges can be ground down when the glass is completely cool.
Finished coloured paperweight
Coloured blown glass bauble
Detail of bauble
Blown glass bauble
Detail showing smokey colours and lines