Glass blowing is believed to have been invented by the Phoenicians over 2000 years ago. A ball of molten glass is inflated by blowing air into it. While still hot, it is shaped, either free-form or by molding.
Three kilns are used, one for the molten glass, one to reheat the glass while it is being worked, and one to slowly cool and anneal the glass when it is finished. A number of hand tools are used, including the blowpipe, the punty (a metal rod used to pick up and carry molten glass), marver (a flat metal plate for cooling and shaping glass), tweezers, and shears.
This video shows glass artist Sharon Gilbert of Talisman Glass making two items using some of these tools.
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