Glass blowing
Stained Glass Windows: Managing Environmental Deterioration, published by Historic England in 2020, suggests that glass blowing is a: ‘Glass-forming technique, probably developed in Babylonia and the Middle East by the 1st century BC. Molten glass is gathered into a ball on the end of a hollow pipe, and rolled on an iron former to roughly shape it and to slightly cool the surface. Then the pipe is used to blow air into the glass and form it into a bubble. By repeated blowing, shaping and reheating, the glass can be formed in many ways.’
Archaeological Evidence for Glassworking, Guidelines for Recovering, Analysing and Interpreting Evidence, published by Historic England in 2018, defines a blowing iron as: ‘A long iron tube that was dipped into the molten glass to collect a gather for subsequent inflating and shaping.’
It defines optic blowing as a process in which: 'A gather of glass is blown into a mould with a pattern on the inner surface, which transfers to the glass. Continued free blowing results in movement and distortion of the pattern.'
And overblow as: 'A by-product of mould blowing, referring to the glass that remains outside the mould, which is removed and recycled.'
It defines paraison as: 'The partially inflated gather of glass at the end of the blowing iron.'
And paraison end as: 'A marble-shaped blob of glass pinched from the end of the gather during the blowing of particular forms, such as the bowls of goblets.'
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
ECA Industry Awards 2024 shortlist revealed
22 leading businesses from across the electrotechnical and engineering services sector.
Government unveils Skills England strategy
Skills England to transform opportunities and drive growth.
New Government Hub for York Given Planning Green Light
For up to 2,600 civil servants, due for completion by 2028.
Construction Skills Certification Scheme cards
July update on Professionally Qualified and Academically Qualified Person Cards.
BSRIA Briefing 2024, November 22
Sustainable Futures: Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living.
The CLC on driving competency in the retrofit sector
Previously published roadmap on skills for net zero.
The first labour government King's speech in fifteen years
Construction industry reactions, support and some concern.
CIOB Retrofit of Buildings Technical Information Sheet
What retrofit is, the approach to be taken and processes to be followed.
Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency
Historic England advice note 18, free download published.
10 retrofit projects revisited 10 years after completion.
Information orders, building liability orders and SPVs
Key BSA terms and how they impact special purpose vehicles.
Listed despite problems with its design.
Zen and the art of cycling exploration.
Design Council Homes Taskforce launched
To support government 1.5 million homes target within UK climate commitments.