2006 UK holiday 7: St Helens World of Glass (page 5/6)

Here you can get a clearer view of the shape of the new glass vase.

Just after re-heating the glass, the glass-worker rests the rod in a carefully-practiced routine before sitting down. Routines like this help to prevent injury: the red-hot [...] [more...]

finishing the rim

Using the “wood” to finish the shape.

Perfect symmetry

Using metal tools to make sure it’s perfectly round.

Reheating

But you can’t see it.

Getting ready

Putting heat-proof gloves on to put the new glass away.

One I prepared earlier

This is what the finished glass vase will look like, once it has been allowed to cool down.

Furnace tunnel

The world’s first continuous glass-making furnace has been excavated. This tunnel carried hot air beneath the molten glass.

Furnace tunnel 2

This tunnel carried hot air and flames to heat the glass above.

A curved brick tunnel outside

Not clear what the purpose of this tunnel was, but probably for hot air.

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