Glassmaking / Glassblowing
Our glasses are handcrafted by glassmakers in the old tradition in European glassworks.
The glassmaker takes the molten glass mass from the harbor with the glassmaker's pipe and shapes it by blowing and turning by hand in conjunction with selective cooling and the help of wooden and metal tools. He repeats this process until the raw glass mass is performed for blowing in a wooden or iron mold. This work process, as well as the tools used, has changed little in the last 1,000 years.
The demands on the glassmaker are high: He has no technical aids at his disposal and must rely solely on his years of experience. His artisanal work is physically demanding and causes a higher energy consumption than that of a steelworker. The profession of glassmaker is an apprenticeship, and manual glassmaking has been designated an intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO Commission and the Conference of Ministers of Culture.
After the glass has been cooled slowly and in a controlled manner in a lehr for over four hours to prevent stress cracks, it is ready for further processing. Protrusions are milled off with diamond wheels, the edges are smoothed with diamond tools, and holes are drilled as required. Matte surfaces are manually satin-finished using an acid. At the end of the glass manufacturing process, quality control is carried out under daylight and artificial light.
The sophisticated manufacturing process gives each glass its own character. Hand-blown glass is a valuable, handcrafted, unique item.