Glass is formed when sand is heated at high temperatures. In its natural state, the material is known as geological or obsidian glass, created when rocks and sands fuse in the heat of a volcanic eruption. Manmade glass objects dating from approximately 4500 B.C and 3000 B.C were unearthed in Mesopotamia and Egypt respectively, signifying mankind’s first forays into glassmaking.
Glassmaking has come a long way since those early days. Today, the variety of techniques gives rise to different glass types, allowing the material to be used in a wide range of decorative and functional applications.
Cast glass is made when the material is heated until it softens, and then poured into a mold. The design remains on the glass after it cools.
Etched glass is engraved with decorative designs, created by cutting a desired pattern into a finished panel.
Sandblasted glass has a frosted, opaque appearance. This is achieved by blasting sand or carborundum onto a glass sheet. Alternatively, a glass panel may be treated with acid for similar effect. To create designs on the glass, the sheet is masked prior to the sandblasting process.
To make laminated glass, liquid resin is poured between two panels of annealed or tempered glass. The resin interlayer makes the glass more resilient than normal glass, so that it rarely breaks upon impact.
Tempered glass is up to four times stronger than annealed glass. It is heated at extremely high temperatures until a particular thermal level is reached, and then cooled by blasts of air at periodic intervals.
To create blown glass, a gaffer, or master craftsman, puffs into a blowpipe upon which a piece of molten glass is placed. He then shapes the material by means of swinging, rolling or sculpting before blowing it to the desired size.
Fusing refers to the technique in which enameled glass or two different compositions of glass are heated until the materials bond together. Fused glass gives rise to rich colors and interesting shapes. Slumped glass is created when a sheet is heated over a mold in a kiln, until the material conforms to the mold’s pattern.
Walls and Divider Panels
A wall-length mirror makes a room appear larger and brighter. Or, juxtapose glass panels with other materials on a feature wall for visual interest.
Instead of opaque walls, another option is to have clear or frosted glass dividers demarcating separate rooms. They allow space and light to flow freely, and a godsend in open-concept or compact interiors.
Glass blocks allow natural light to filter through a room, while their tile-like, opaque appearance provides privacy. Furthermore, their multiplicity of colors, sizes and designs, and their modular nature permits virtually limitless flexibility in design. On dividers, they can be paired with other types of glass to create visual impact.
Furniture Design
Frosted or clear glass tabletops are a common element in contemporary interiors. They can be teamed with stainless steel supports for a contemporary look, or with wood for a textural effect.
In the bathroom, glass is not limited to shower partitions. It can feature on countertops and vessel sinks. Vessels may be plain, painted with designs or embellished with wavy edges. And belying its delicate appearance, tempered glass, being impact-resistant, can even be used on heavy-duty areas like the kitchen countertop.
Ornaments
Light fixtures such as chandeliers, sconces and pendants make the most of the material’s translucent beauty. Other glass objects that are useful as well as decorative are vases, bowls and candleholders. Finally, art glass sculptures come in a smorgasbord of rich, burnished shades that bring color and reflected light into an interior. To enhance their beauty, place them on a mantelpiece or recessed alcove in the glow of a spotlight.
