Glossary

Acid etching cold decoration technique in which the surface of the glass is partially covered with a wax or resin then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed areas

Air-twist a stem in which fine, spiraling channels of air are trapped, created by piercing a gather of molten glass with a ring of needles, then drawing it out lengthwise while twisting it.

Ariel technique of creating air-bubble designs in glass by sandblasting a pattern in deep relief on to a clear or multicoloured blank, then reheating and casing the blank in a layer of clear glass so that the design is captured in trails of air. Developed by Orrefors in 1937

Baluster glass drinking glass with a swelling at the base of the stem, rising in a concave curve to a narrow stem or neck

Blowing a technique of producing glass vessels by blowing a molten mass of glass, or gather, through a blowpipe, either freehand or into a mould

Cameo glass two or more layers of coloured glass in which the top layer/s are then cut or etched away to create a multi-coloured design in relief. An ancient technique popular with Art Nouveau glassmakers in the early 20th

Cased glass one layer of glass, often coloured, sandwiched between two plain glass layers or vice versa, the outer layer engraved to create a decorative effect. An ancient technique revived in the 19th.

Core-forming a technique of producing a glass vessel by shaping trails of molten glass over a core usually made from mud or clay, and fusing them together in a furnace; the core is carved or acid-etched out when cool.

Cranberry glass transparent, reddish-pink glass, in America named after the fruit. Originally known as ruby glass

Cristallo type of soda glass developed in 15th Venice, made with soda derived from the ashes of the barilla plant.

Diamond-point engraving minutely detailed, fine line decoration using a stiletto-type tool with a sharp diamond point.

Faceting technique used to decorate curved glass surfaces by grinding to create flat, geometric sections.

Firing glass a low drinking glass, with a short, thick stem and a thick foot, used on ceremonial occasions when, after toasting, the glass would be rapped on the table Also known as a “bumping glass”

Flashed a method of colouring glass that involves applying a thin layer of coloured glass to a vessel, either by painting it or dipping it into a pot of colourant

Gilding a technique of glass decoration that involves painting the glass surface with gold leaf, gold dust or gold paint and then firing to fix the design

Graal technique of creating a coloured pattern within the wall of a vessel, developed by Orrefors in 1916 The process involves making a small, cased blank, which is then cut, engraved, or acid-etched with a pattern. The blank is then reheated, cased with clear glass, and blown into its final form, leaving the expanded pattern suspended inside the wall.

Intercalaire a technique whereby pieces would be cameo-carved - usually by laminating two layers of glass together - and then covered with a layer of carved or etched semi-transparent glass.

Lamp work glass that is blown or manipulated from clear or coloured glass rods over a blow lamp or torch

Latticinio lace glass Fine threads of white or clear glass in filigree mesh effects enclosed in clear glass. Ancient technique perfected by Venetians and found, for example, in some millefiori paperweights and Nailsea glass.

Lattimo from the Italian latte meaning “milk”; an opaque white glass made by adding bone ash or tin oxide to the glass batch.

“Lost-wax” casting a technique in which a wax model is cased in plaster and the wax is then steamed out to make a mould for pate-de-crystal and pate-de-verre.

Marqueterie-sur-verre a technique developed by Emille Galle, in which localized blobs of coloured glass were marvered into the gather

Back to home page...