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Glossary of glass terms

y Ancient glass = Generally refer to glass made before the Venetian era . y Anneal = T o cool glass by reintroducing a completed object into an auxiliary

part of the glass furnace and slowly cooling the object so that any strain created

in the glass during the forming process may be released.y Antique glass = A trade term for glass that is more than 25yrs old. y B lown glass = T he shaping of glass by blowing air through a hollow rod

into the center of a molten glass gather . y C ane = A ny string or rod of glass. y C old shop = A glass-working studio that does not have furnace or glory

hole. y C ut glass = Grinding stones are worked wet to cut design onto glass. y D irect carving = Glass chunk may be carved, ground, chiseled or

otherwise shaped like other sculpture materials. y E nameled glass= O paque glass colors melted onto glass surface. T he

colors are actually glass powder. y E ngraving = D esign cut or scratched on glass with diamond point, stone,

metal, or copper wheel. Usually more complex and flexible than cu t glass work. y E tching = Glass may be etched by hydrofluoric acid (HFL) , which likes

silica. D angerous. y F ire polish = T he reintroduction of an object into the furnace in order to

smooth an irregularity. A lso a technique used to retain a shiny surface to glassafter it has been ground on a grinder or sandblaster.

y F lashing = Very thin layer of colored glass that is fired or vaporized on baseglass.

y G ather = A ball of molten glass taken from a pot or furnace on the end of ahollow blow rod.

y G ilded = M etals, such as gold, fired onto glass. y G lory hole = A high temperature chamber used for reshaping glass either

on a pun ty rod or blow pipe. y H ot shop = A glass working studio containing a furnace and glory hole;

especially a glass blowing studio. y Incalmo = J oining two or more blown sections while hot. y Iridescence = T hin laminated flakes of glass showing decomposition with

age. A lso artificial, as done by T iffany. y Iridized glass = Glass whose surface is chemically treated to have a

rainbow or iridescent appearance. y K iln = Insulated chamber for heating and cooling glass or ceramics.

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y K iln-formed = Glass that is altered, fused, shaped or textured by heat of akiln.

y L atticinio = T hreads of white or colored glass within clear glass, sometimeslace-like in pattern.

y L amp work = A ny glass-working technique done wit h the direct flame of atorch; work with preformed glass rods and tubes.

y L eaded glass = S tained glass window held in place by lead cames. y L ost wax casting = T he object is modeled in wax and cased in ceramic

or plaster mold. T he mold is heated and the wax flows out; powdered or moltenglass is poured into the mold.

y M illefiori = Italian term meaning thousand flowers, used to describemosaic glass objects.

y M osaic glass = Vessels or objects are built up of preformed elements of glass placed around or in a mold and slowly heated until the glasses fusetogether.

y O verlay = B lowing a bubble with color on the inside, the bottom is attachedto a solid core and then the bubble is turned inside out, leaving a thin color flash on the inside.

y P unty rod = A solid metal rod used to transfer and hold glass when workingwith a glory hole.

y S andblasting = High-pressure air is applied to the surface of glass tocarve texture.

y S lump = A technique used to form glass using a mold, heat and gravity. y T hermal shock = Glass breakage caused by rapid or uneven heating or

cooling.