Handblown

Handblown refers to objects formed by inflating molten glass with breath or by blowing air through a hollow tube, usually by an skilled glassmaker. The term is most commonly applied to vessels and sculptures and is used to distinguish artisanal, hand-made items from mass-produced, machine-made glass. Handblown pieces may be free-blown, where no mold is used, or mold-blown, where a mold shapes the exterior while the interior is expanded by blowing.

Process and techniques: The craft begins with gathering a glob of hot glass on a blowpipe. The glassmaker blows into the pipe to create a bubble, then continually shapes and rotates the piece with tools and controlled heating. In free-blown work, the form develops through careful inflation and hand shaping. In mold-blown work, a mold constrains the outer contour while air is blown to form the interior. Color is added through colored glass, frits, or overlays, and many pieces are finished on a pontil rod, which leaves a pontil scar on the base after detachment and cooling. The glass is annealed in a kiln to relieve internal stress before it cools.

History and context: Handblown glass has ancient roots, with notable development in ancient Near East and later in Roman times. The technique reached a high point in medieval and Renaissance Europe, especially in Italy’s Murano, which became renowned for free-blown and artistic glass. In the modern era, studio glass movements continued to emphasize individual artistry and craftsmanship.

Contemporary use: Today, handblown glass is valued for its uniqueness and variability. Pieces labeled handblown often indicate craftsmanship and potential differences from factory-produced glass, though production methods can be combined.