Stained glass → The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings. Although traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensional structures and sculpture.
Hand blown glass → When you are looking for a unique accent to your home or you want to give a friend a gift that they will treasure forever, it might be time for you to take a look at hand blown glass vases! Glass vases will catch the eye in a way that other vases do not, and they are perfect whether you fill them to the top with bright, sweet daisies or you simply look for an austere beauty with a single branch of pussy willow. Vases that are made in this style can be both decorative and functional and whether you decide you want a large or small design, there are some lovely ones out there that will suit you to the ground.
Frosted glass → Frosted glass is produced by the sandblasting or acid etching of clear sheet glass. It has the effect of rendering the glass translucent by scattering of light during transmission, thus blurring images while still transmitting light.
Art glass → Definitions of art glass can be as complex and contentious as definitions of what constitutes "art" and will inevitably include many refinements and exceptions. On the one hand "art glass" is not quite of the size, uniqueness and scope to be considered as "art" - unlike glass art - but on the other, was designed or has come to be appreciated more for its decorative excellence, artistic merit or design distinctiveness than for any possible or originally intended use.
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Definitions of art glass can be as complex and contentious as definitions of what constitutes "art" and will inevitably include many refinements and exceptions. On the one hand "art glass" is not quite of the size, uniqueness and scope to be considered as "art" - unlike glass art - but on the other, was designed or has come to be appreciated more for its decorative excellence, artistic merit or design distinctiveness than for any possible or originally intended use.
"Art glass" has been almost exclusively intended to decorate the home and was historically bought by those who could afford to commission individual work. However this last distinction today is becoming moot as glass artists strive to produce works of ever increasing distinction whether commissioned or not.
At its broadest level "art glass" can most easily be defined in opposition to glass for utilitarian purposes where the usability is more important than artistic design: glassware, for dining, drinking, and cooking in the home, and for the catering and hospitality industries, as well as glass packaging, scientific, industrial, and architectural glass are the mundane products against which "art glass" is to be compared and contrasted.
Terminology
Manufacturing techniques
There are two main techniques used to produce "art glass" : moulding or pressing, and glassblowing; but there are many others. Some techniques sound very similar but have very important distincti ... Read the rest of this article