The Beauty of Glassware Art

Art glass is not easily defined as the word art itself covers a wide scope of definitions and meanings. Art in glass is not usually categorized because of its dimensions and range, but rather, esteemed for its decorative merits, artistic integrity or design uniqueness than for its perceived use.

The perception of art glass has before this has been almost utterly projected to embellish the home and was originally purchased by those who do not have the funds for individually commissioned work, but nowadays, it is a whole different story as glass artists go all out to create works of art to supply the ever-increasing demand. Art in glass is now readily available to the masses, and no longer as expensive. In fact, many glass manufacturers incorporate intricate designs on glassware - so that they are not just functional, but become beautiful pieces of decoration.

There are two primary modus operandi utilized to create glass art moulding/ pressing and the enduring art of glassblowing.

Moulded glass or pressed glass is almost always produced by machines but can also be rendered by hand, although the latter is fast becoming a dying art.

Glassblowing however, is the most utilized technique in glass art according to history. This is due to the close relationship between the materials used, and the endless prospects of inspiration at each phase of the process. Blown glass indicates items which are individually rendered but can also comprise the utilization of moulds for determining, spinning and spiking to create ornamental bubbles. However, not all blown glass can be defined as art glass, as scientific glassware used in laboratories, although blown, are specifically used for practical purposes.

Modern art glass is a pivotal component of art glass. The industry is of a minute one, and endures specifically by buyers who support these artists, as materials are very expensive and the time it takes to produce a particular piece of glassware art is long. The method used to create art glass has altered very little over the centuries.

Art glass is perceived by researchers, appraisers, curators and dealers in a much bigger historical scope. In the latter part of the 70s, Victor Arwas wrote the definitive book, Glass - Art Nouveau to Art Deco. With this, art glass was specifically re-defined. Highly artistic pieces rendered by Lalique for example, are considered art glass. After World War II, many types of moulded glass, and paying particular attention to clear glass, although of little function, was known as glassware. In order to be categorized as glass art, details such as complexity in design and artistic elucidation has to be taken into count. Another pertinent factor is the era of the mould maker.

Marcus Newhall, who wrote Sklo Union Art before Industry: 20th Century Czech Presses Glass, stressed that mass produced pressed glass created by the Sklo Union in the 50s and 70s can be re-classified as glass art. This was due to the fact that although the glassware created was for everyday use, the highly artistic designs in each and every piece qualified them to be art glass.

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