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Glass and Wood Combinations
And the metal tools used to shape then both. A true convergence of materials, smoke emerges. Then it settles, the products are cooled, sanded, fitted, and polished until they appear that they were meant to be together.
Mould Glass Blowing
Because of his extensive experience with both materials, Gabriel has developed numerous successful techniques for combining wood and glass. The most stunning of these techniques are mould blown glass eternal lights for synagogues. Hot glass is blown into bases which are lathe turned and hollowed by hand. The glass bubble fills the empty spaces in the mould and then is dramatically opened on the other side. After the glass cools slowly in the kiln it is refit into the finished, carved and inlayed mould. In this way we are able to achieve a shape that flows from wood to glass in a smooth, cohesive way.
To view finished Mould Blown products
Kiln Shaped Glass
Another unique technique used at Custom Carving for a similar purpose, mostly for the production of Mounted Eternal Lights, is kiln shaped glass. Gabriel builds a wooden frame and matching mould from stainless steel or fiberglass boards. The sheet glass is chosen, cut, cleaned and placed on the mould inside the kiln. The glass takes form in the kiln at around 775 degrees C. After proper annealing of the glass it is affixed to the back of the wooden framework and the glass appears to be coming through the spaces in the wooden frame.
To view other finished mould blown products
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