Alum Bay Glass has been creating and manufacturing fine decorative glassware on
the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England since 1972 and is the Island’s longest established glass studio.
In 1983 the
glassworks moved into a specially designed glass studio built above the spectacular
coloured sand cliffs of Alum Bay. In this inspiring setting close to the
world famous Needles rocks, Alum Bay Glass has continued to flourish and grow.
To maintain the highest standards of production the entire glassworks was
refurbished in the early months of 1999. 'State of the art' pot furnaces allow
the glassmakers precise control over the quality of their crystal glass
creations.
Alum Bay Glass produces fine crystal glasswares, using techniques developed and
refined over many centuries. These techniques and the materials used continue to
be refined and Alum Bay Glass now produces entirely lead-free Crystal Glass
where Barium replaces the lead once used to add brilliance to the crystal. The
basic pure crystal glass is made by melting together purified silica sand
(mined in Belgium), borax, limestone dolomite, potash and barium carbonate.
After 5 hours heating at 1260 degrees Celsius, the temperature is lowered to
1080 degrees Celsius and the glass is then ready to use.
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Virtually every hand working technique is used in the glass studio - blowing, casting, pressing, spinning and drawing.
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The photos below show the various stages of making a 'Jack in the Pulpit' vase
at Alum Bay Glass:
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The glassmaker gathers molten glass
on the end of a hollow blowing iron.
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Colours in the form of powdered or chipped glass, metallic oxides, sometimes
silver and gold leaf,
are rolled onto the surface of
the clear crystal glass.
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Shaping begins with a pad of wet newspaper cupped in the glassmaker's otherwise
unprotected hand or a wooden cup called a 'Block' is sometimes used.
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The glass is then stretched and shaped with a variety of
hand-held tools.
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The iron must be constantly rotated and the glass worked at the
correct temperature to ensure
that the shape is perfect.
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Blowing through the rotating iron
produces a bubble of the required size.
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Once the glassmaker is satisfied with
the base shape it can be cracked off
the blowing iron and reversed so
that the top can be formed.
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A solid iron is then attached to
the base using a small gob of
molten glass called a 'Punty'.
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The glass shape is then re-heated
in the 'Glory Hole', a combustion
chamber at 1200+ degrees Celsius.
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The neck of the vase is opened
out and, for this distinctive shape,
stretched to an organic flowing taper.
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The classic 'Jack in the pulpit '
shape is then achieved by the
bending and stretching of the rim.
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When the glassmaker is satisfied
with the final shape, the vase is
placed in an annealing oven to
cool gradually over 15 hours.
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After being allowed to cool slowly and evenly to prevent stress fractures
forming, some pieces will then need further work in the way of grinding and
polishing. A perfume bottle for instance, will have a matching glass stopper
made.
Then, only after a rigorous quality check, will the piece be finally ready to
be displayed for sale.
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The studio glass makers of Alum Bay draw their inspiration from many sources.
They work surrounded by some of the most dramatic scenery in the British
Isles. The ranges of glass made reflect the constant shifts of light
and mood in the weather at this far western point of the Isle of Wight.
Shimmering irridescence, soft shades, bold contrasts and
the luxury of sterling silver and 22ct gold are all part of the rich palette
they use
. Small wonder then, that the glass from the Alum Bay
Glass Studio is so widely collected.
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