When was glassblowing invented and by whom?
Phoenician and Syrian craftsmen developed the technique in the middle of the 1st century BC. They exploited inflation to blow air into molten glass for the first time.
Questions about Glassblowing
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How does natron concentration affect blown glass compared to cast glass?
The concentration of natron acted as flux but was slightly lower in blown vessels than cast ones. Lower natron levels made the glass stiffer for blowing.
What is the difference between free-blowing and mold-blowing techniques?
Free-blowing held a pre-eminent position until the late 19th century while mold-blowing emerged during the first part of the second quarter of the 1st century AD. Free-blowing involves short puffs of air into a gather whereas mold-blowing uses molds like those found at Poetovio and Celeia in Slovenia.
Where did Phoenicians establish large workshops for glass production?
On eastern borders, Phoenicians set up large workshops in contemporary Lebanon and Israel. Ennion was among the most prominent glassworkers from Lebanon of that time.
Who started the studio glass movement and when did it begin?
The studio glass movement began in 1962 when Harvey Littleton and Dominick Labino held workshops at Toledo Museum of Art. Littleton promoted use of small furnaces in individual artists' studios to create blown art.