art glass

''Art glass'' normally means the modern art glass movement in which individual artists working alone or with a few assistants to create works from molten glass in relatively small furnaces of a few hundred pounds of glass. It began in the early 1960s and showed continued growth through the end of the century. The glass objects created are not primarily utilitarian but are intended to make a sculptural or decorative statement. On the market, their prices may range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars (US). The best known of the moderns is Dale Chihuly who uses many of the best independent glass workers to create his large and colorful works.Prior to the early 1960s, ''art glass'' would have referred to glass made for decorative use, usually by teams of factory workers, taking glass from furnaces with a thousand or more pounds of glass. This form of art glass, of which Tiffany Glass CompanyTiffany and Steuben (glass)Steuben in the U.S.A., Émile GalléGallé in France and Kosta GlasbrukKosta Boda in Sweden are perhaps the best known, grew out of the factory system in which all glass objects were hand or mold glassblowingblown by teams of 4 or more men. In fact, the turn of the 19th Century was the height of the old art glass movement while the factory glass blowers were being replaced by mechanical bottle blowing and continuous window glass. In the factory, every member of the team does the same job repeatedly turning out dozens or hundreds of the same item in a days work. In an art glass studio, ideally, "production work" (goblets, vases, pitchers, art marbles etc.) shows more hand worked variation than was allowed in pure factory work environment and each piece shows some of the lead glass worker's creativity, the gaffer. In addition to smaller production pieces, most studio glass workers also try to turn out larger individual pieces which might be the equivalent of a master piece in the journeyman system of guild and factory work.

External links -

starfishglass.bc.ca - An art glass studio site with a gallery of pieces

reneculler.com - Rene Culler - artist & teacher

guild.com - Large collection of contemporary glass artists

craft.fsu.edu - Florida State University's Master Craftsman Program

universemarbles.com - Universe MarblesCategory:Glass art

Mole Hole Denver, Wee Forest Folk, Swarovski Crystal, Dept. 56
Welcome to the Mole Hole of Denver, featuring Wee Forest Folk, Swarovski Crystal, Italian Charms, Sweet Romance Victorian boxes and jewelry, Dept. 56 Villages other fine collectibles and unique gifts for all occasions.
http://www.moleholedenver.com/

www.GlassSensations.com
Glass Sensations offers custom glass art for your windows, doors, cabinets and any other glass surface. The possibilities are endless...
http://www.glasssensations.com/

Chaos Glassworks
Chaos Glassworks is a hot shop and gallery located in Sutter Creek, California. It is owned and operated by David and Heather Hopman and offers a wide assortment of vases, bowls, paperweights, lighting, beads, and sculpture. All pieces are one of a kind. Custom work is welcomed.
http://www.chaosglassworks.com/

http://www.notis-artglass.gr
Stained glass in a wide variety of styles & patterns and architectural-decorative glass art applications: Glass sculpture, crystal ceilings, lightings, dividers, doors, stained-glass windows, special structures.
http://www.notis-artglass.gr/

Coastal Art Glass, Weymouth, MA
Custom and pre-made stained, leaded, etched, beveled and painted glass. Restorations and repair
http://www.coastalglassart.com/

NJM Gallery of Glass Art
Featuring the finest glass artists from across the USA, NJM Gallery offer a wide and varied selection of handblown glass art vases, paperweights, perfume bottles and more.
http://www.njmgallery.com/

Atlanta Art Glass
Blown Glass by offhand glass artists located in the Atlanta Georgia area. A culmination of glass art crafted by blowers with varied styles ranging from traditional Italian and Venetian techniques to freeform glass blowing.
http://www.atlantaartglass.com/

Fenton Art Glass Company
Largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the United States. Includes product information, history of the company, schedule of plant tours, dealer locator, online shopping and order information.
http://www.fentonartglass.com/

Sundance Art Glass
A West Coast art glass center offering classes, torchs, kilns and supplies for glassblowing, flameworking and lampworking glass.
http://www.artglass1.com/

Uroboros Glass
Hand-cast specialty art glass for lamps, panels and hot/warm applications like fusing, kiln casting and lamp working.
http://www.uroboros.com/

Art Glass Suppliers Association International
A not for profit organization promoting the art glass supplies and products industry globally.
http://www.agsa.org