Lasityön

Lasityön is a Finnish term that translates to "glass work" or "glass artistry" and refers to the practice of creating objects from glass through various techniques. This encompasses a wide range of artistic and functional applications of glass. Historically, glasswork has been employed for creating vessels, decorative items, and architectural elements.

Modern lasityön encompasses both traditional methods like glassblowing, where molten glass is inflated into a bubble with a blowpipe, and lampworking or flameworking, which involves shaping glass using a torch. Other techniques include fusing, where pieces of glass are heated until they melt and join together, and casting, where molten glass is poured into a mold. Stained glass, a well-known form of lasityön, involves assembling colored glass pieces into decorative designs, often for windows.

The materials used in lasityön vary, with different types of glass offering distinct properties for color, transparency, and durability. The finished products can range from practical items like drinking glasses and light fixtures to intricate sculptures, jewelry, and elaborate mosaic panels. Lasityön is practiced by both skilled craftspeople and contemporary artists, contributing to both functional design and fine art.