Many of our cased and embossed glass lamp shades are actually examples of art glass, and are hand-blown by skillful glass makers. Cased glass is actually two layers of glass gathered, while in a molten state, one on top of the other using the end of a pontil (the glass blowers steel blow tube). This two-layered "blob" is then blown, with force, into a shade-making mold. The glass cools and solidifies almost instantly and the shade is formed. Embossed glass is made the same way and owes its beautiful design to the mold and the skill of the mold maker who has cast the embossed shapes into the interior surfaces of the mold. Many Victorian lamps were originally manufactured and sold with cased glass lamp shades. |
