Hand Blown Glass Figurines – The Perfect Gift For Animal Lovers
Blown glass figurines can make the perfect gift for anyone. They’re great for special occasions, and they make the perfect addition to any decorative Christmas tree. These detailed figures come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit all tastes. So, you’re bound to find the perfect figurine to suit you. Animal figurines are some of the most popular of the glass blown figurine range. You can find anything from dog figurines , horse figurines , cat figurines and even tiger figurines. These small decorative pieces make a great addition to any home. You’ll find that glass animal figurines
are also a popular collection item, as there are so many types and styles to choose from. Russian hand blow glass figurines are often the most sought after, because of their incredible detail and the use of bright vibrant colours.
You’ll be surprised at just how cute some of the smaller animal figurines really are, and there is so much detail that goes into each and every design. But, making these small and beautifully formed glass figurines isn’t an easy task. It can take many years to perfect, and it is considered to be one of the oldest and greatest art forms around. Russian artists have been hand blowing figurines for many centuries, and they’re glass work is world famous. They still remain the best in the world at this exquisite art form, and glass blowing is still a popular export and pastime in Russia today.
Some of the no-Russian figures you can find on-line may be made with a mould, but the best and most detailed of figurine designs will always be created using the traditional hand blown glass technique. Because each figuring is hand blown and hand coloured, no two pieces are exactly the same. This is what makes these pieces so sought after, and gives the figurines their special individual charm.
You’d be amazed at the lengthy process the blowers have to go through in order to create these gorgeous pieces. You’ll also be surprised to find that all you need to create these exquisite Russian glass designs is… soda, sand, lime and heat. But, there’s a lot more that goes into it than that. Glass blowing has been around for centuries and the Russian blowers still use techniques similar to those originally used to create their figurines . The blowers are exposed to extreme heats when blowing, and these difficult techniques can take many many years to master.
The Art Of Hand Blown Glass Figurines
The Art Of Hand Blown Glass Figurines
Hand blown glass figurines are still as sought after as ever. These gorgeous pieces are collected all over the world and they come in all styles and designs. The Russian glass animal figurines are some of the most popular and highly desired pieces around today. You can find almost every animal imaginable recreated and blow as a glass figurine. The cat figurines
and dog figurines
are some of the most popular, but many folks enjoy collecting all kinds of animals, anything from small horse figurines
to larger tiger figurines. There are so many to choose from, you’re bound to find perfect animal figurine for you.
The tradition of glass blowing has been around for many centuries and is one of the oldest known art forms. Glass was even being blown in BC times, but it wasn’t until many centuries later that the glass figurines we see today were first created. This more sophisticated hand blown technique is still used today in Russia and other countries around the world to create delicate glass figurines.
The blowing process starts with the gathering of the glass. During this stage the blower collects molten glass from the red hot furnace with a rod. This tricky manoeuvre can be very painful and dangerous if it’s not done correctly, but once mastered, gathering is quick and easy to do. Next, the glass is then rolled. This is done quickly on a steel table before the glass has a chance to cool. The next step is the blowing. Air is blown by mouth into the glass and a glass bubble begins to form. It’s during this stage that the glass in shaped. There are a number of additional tools such as blocks and paddles used to shape figurines. The blower will then add more and more glass until he/she has enough for their figurine project. Once the piece is removed from the blow pipe it is placed on a annealer and left to slowly cool and to set.
In order to add colours to the glass, and to create intricate designs, there are a number of other equally complicated techniques needed. This process is very difficult to learn, specialist equipment is needed, so it’s best to leave this to the master glass blowers.
Most modern glassware is now created quickly in moulds, but this original blowing technique is still used today, to create many glass figurines . You’ll find that the best hand glass blowers are in Russia. The art forms remains popular there, and many workshops still create figurines for export around the world.