In our first class session, we had a guest speaker who was very knowledgeable about glass in West Virginia. I knew that glass was a part of the heritage of our state but was really unaware of how much glass was actually produced in the area.
Dean gave us insight on the reasons glass came to our state. He also gave us some insight on the history behind glass and the types of glass that were produced. I had not really thought about the different types of glass in our lives. Something that we use every day seems oblivious to our observations of it. I've found myself looking at things in my home made of glass and trying to follow the history of it back to it's first production and WHY it came into production.
How many glass objects do you have in your household? Do you know where it originated? How about whether it was hand made or machine made?
I was really surprised at the number of items of old that were made by hand and the processes that came about to produce it. I think the most intriguing thing I found out was the art of creating cameo glass and the process (scientifically) it takes to accomplish it. I've listed a few web sites below to check out about cameo glass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameo_glass
http://www.david-issitt.1hwy.com/custom4.html
What are the steps to creating a cameo glass piece?
There were so many things to talk about from the making of marbles, to paper weights and flasks. I can't wait to have the opportunity to see more in first hand experiences.
At the end of our class session, we received books about Glass Towns in West Virginia and West Virginia Glass Between the Wars, three glass marbles and a new perspective about something I walk past every single day but have never stopped to think about how it was made or how it came to be... glass.
Dean gave us insight on the reasons glass came to our state. He also gave us some insight on the history behind glass and the types of glass that were produced. I had not really thought about the different types of glass in our lives. Something that we use every day seems oblivious to our observations of it. I've found myself looking at things in my home made of glass and trying to follow the history of it back to it's first production and WHY it came into production.
How many glass objects do you have in your household? Do you know where it originated? How about whether it was hand made or machine made?
I was really surprised at the number of items of old that were made by hand and the processes that came about to produce it. I think the most intriguing thing I found out was the art of creating cameo glass and the process (scientifically) it takes to accomplish it. I've listed a few web sites below to check out about cameo glass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameo_glass
http://www.david-issitt.1hwy.com/custom4.html
What are the steps to creating a cameo glass piece?
There were so many things to talk about from the making of marbles, to paper weights and flasks. I can't wait to have the opportunity to see more in first hand experiences.
At the end of our class session, we received books about Glass Towns in West Virginia and West Virginia Glass Between the Wars, three glass marbles and a new perspective about something I walk past every single day but have never stopped to think about how it was made or how it came to be... glass.
I love it Kellie. I went home and checked around my house for glass items too. My daughter and I went through her marbles after I got home from listening to Mr. Dean Six. We seperated the different types of marbles. Good blog Kellie! Thanks for sharing.
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