About Me

Crystal Clear: A Blog About The Wonderful World Of Glass

I first fell in love with glass when I was ten years old. My mother took me to see a wonderful recital where the pianist was playing a glass piano. I was mesmerised by the way the piano shone and sparkled as it reflected the stage lights. I could never have imagined such a glamorous object. Ever since then, i have been fascinated by different types of glass. From stained glass panels to one-way mirrors, my eyes will always notice the glass fixtures in a room first. Recently, I ate at a restaurant in Japan where the entire floor was made of patterned glass. Needless to say, I was too excited to eat! This blog is for those who are looking for glass items and glass lovers like myself. I hope it gives you a peek into the wonderful world of glass and the options out there. Please tread carefully.

Search

Latest Posts

Crystal Clear: A Blog About The Wonderful World Of Glass

Clues to the Quality of Art Glass

by Ellen Jokinen

If you are looking for something to add visual interest to your home, art glass is the way to go. While many pieces of art glass are functional, some of them may not be, and that's why you need to be very careful in your decision to invest in art glass in your home. Knowing the usability of each of these types is very important in choosing the perfect one for your home. However, regardless of your intention of buying a piece of art glass, you should be able to recognise the best quality and here are a few clues to help you.

Distribution of the Colour-Mix

Pay attention to the colour mix of the art glass. For a high-quality and visually appealing piece of art glass, consider choosing a product with an even distribution of colours. For a multi-coloured piece of glass, pay attention to the spots where two colours meet. The colours should not appear as though one is flaking away from the other. This is because since different pieces of glass are used in the manufacture of the multi-coloured piece, compatibility usually indicates that the piece is not likely to be destroyed easily under stress.

Warpage

Warpage is another structural clue to the quality of art glass. Therefore, when buying art glass, inspect carefully for any signs of warping. Place the piece of art glass on a flat surface and check carefully for any bends. If there is no warping, the piece should lay flush on that surface.

Warpage is usually a sign of stress in the piece of glass, and if you want your art glass to last, be watchful for any signs of warping, especially for smaller pieces or sheets of the glass.

Surface Reflection

The surface reflection of the piece of art glass can help you determine its surface quality. Examining the surface quality of the piece of art glass means that you are investigating for its texture. Is it rough, leathery, shiny, or smooth? Look for things like that.

You can also hold the piece of art glass in reflected light and tilt it to different angles. This can help you identify unintentional textures, which sometimes appear as rough leather. Such unintentional textures can affect the appearance of your art glass, which means, the piece won't be of the quality you prefer.

Surface Chill

Surface chills should not be a concern if you are sure that your art glass won't be under tension. However, if you are looking for large pieces of art glass, chances are you need them for heavy applications with much tension. In such case, you need to pay attention to surface chills, which may appear as clustered waves or repaired cracks on the surface. Surface chills are usually signs of structural weakness so make sure you are careful when buying the art glass.

Share