Glossery
Annealer: A box that can be either a front loader or a top loader that is heated by electrical elements or gas. Many annealers are computer-controlled to slowly cool the glass and relieve internal stress (to reduce cracks).
Batch: The raw chemicals that are melted together to produce glass.
Bench: A place where the glass worker can sit and work with tools while supporting and rotating the pipe.
Block: The process of forming the glass usually in a wet, wooden block (made from the wood of fruit trees).
Blowpipe: A hollow, steel pipe used to create blown glass.
Box: The finished piece is boxed when it is placed in the annealer.
Cane: A form of glass that has been drawn out into a rod.
Charge: The process of adding the batch or cullet into the furnace over a period of time to create the molten glass.
Cold work: The procedure of forming the glass when it is cold and solid through the process of grinding, cutting, polishing, sandblasting, acid etching, engraving, etc.
Collar: The piece of glass between the pipe and the creation. The break-off point.
Color: Any hue added to change clear glass. Color comes in the form of rod, powder, and many other names.
Crystal: Clear glass with no color on it. Lead crystal is a batch of glass with lead added to it in order to give it more clarity.
Cullet: Hardened glass, which was previously melted. Recycled glass, which is easier to melt than batch.
Dip: The process of gathering molten glass from the furnace on the end of a pipe or punty.
Feather: A technique used to pull colored glass in hot glass to give it a feather shaped pattern.
Fine: The process of allowing the molten glass to disperse air bubbles in the furnace before gathering it. A longer fine time results in less bubbles and a cleaner gather.
Flash: The process of heating the piece (normally in the glory hole) for a short period of time, such as five seconds.
Furnace: An enclosed structure for holding a clay pot to melt and sustaining glass in its molten form.
Gaffer: The boss, the creator of the hot glass, gives the assistants direction in the hot shop.
Gas: Fuel that burns to generate heat such as propane, oxygen, and natural gas.
Glass: A molten mixture of chemicals, namely, silica (sand), soda ash, and limestone that is slowly cooled from its amorphous state to a solid form.
Glory hole: A furnace used to reheat glass over and over until the artist is done creating the piece. The glory hole keeps the glass at a malleable temperature.
Hot work: The process of changing the form of glass while it is in a malleable state. Hot work can be sculpting, blocking, blowing, drawing, swirling, etc.
Jacks: A tool used to shape molten glass. They look like oversized tweezers and are used to neck the glass before removing it from the pipe.
Maestro: Italian term for master. The best of the best. Marver: The large flat table, usually made of steel, used to shape glass on. These tables were originally made of marble.
Mold: A mold is a cavity that molten glass is shaped in. Molds can be made of many different materials(such as sand, metal, wood) and can be blown into or cast in.
Murano: A well-known mecca of glass blowing located on the Island of Murano in the city of Venice, Italy. Many maestros work there!
Neck: Jacks are used to neck the piece by squeezing the jacks and rotating the piece between the pipe and the hot glass. This is generally where the piece will be tapped off the pipe.
Paddle: A tool made of wood or metal to flatten the glass.
Paper marver: Wet newspapers folded up and used to hand form or smooth the glass.
Protection: Safety equipment worn to protect one’s self from the radiant heat of hot glass. Includes safety glasses, gloves and/or socks on the arms.
Punty: A closed, metal pipe used to transfer glass or sculpt solid work upon.
Reheat: The process of warming up the glass on the end of the pipe to the temperature needed in order to manipulate the glass. Reheating is accomplished in the glory hole.
Rondel: A flat plate or platter made by spinning a bowl open while it is at just the right temperature and consistency. A most fascinating procedure to watch!
Rotate: The pipe or punty must be continually revolved in order to keep the glass from sagging off the end of it.
Transfer: The process of moving a piece of work from one pipe to another in order to work on the opposite end.
Vessel: Any piece able to hold either liquids and/or solids. The following are considered vessels: goblets, plates, vases, bowls, etc.