Murano, Italy:
The glassblowing process begins when a specialized glass artisan called a gaffer lifts a molten blob on the end of a blowpipe.
Next, he blows, twists, pulls, and cuts the shape over a hot flame. Special glassmaking tools forged by a blacksmith are then used to form specific shapes such as handles, spouts, stems, and other shapes.
The gaffer continues to shape the piece until it results in its final form—a goblet, a plate, a vase, or another type of object.
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Awesome photo – thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the feedback! –Laura
Reblogged this on Dolce Beada, my sweet life in beads and commented:
Red Hot Glass!
This is a glassblower working in a much larger scale than would be done for beads; however for blown glass beads the process would be the same – just in miniature.