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A Glass Act.
Today in, my real ,work i was fortunate to be asked to film at one of the oldest glass manufacturers in the UK.
The factory was built in in 1760 and stepping inside the building except for a few electrical power boxes and wall cables it all seemed the same as how it was back then.
So the guys are wearing shorts , trainers and sunglasses in front of the furnace rather than some leather apron and gloves but the skill and technique is the same as it ever was.
You collect the glass , roll and shape it , blow into the molten hot lump and create a delicate bubble of clear glass.
There are steel barrows with raw materials in them looking every part a prop from a Dickensian novel.
The air is hot and broken windows high on the sloping walls remain so . Why would you repair them ?
It's not a large factory just four or five furnaces within the old structure and a separate area where the glass is still cut and etched, all by hand.
What was refreshing was the absence of any technology. Not a PC , Computer controlled robot , measuring system, or temperature control anywhere to be seen. Every piece hand crafted and individual to the next
Nothing but raw abilty , keeness of eye and experience.
Last year they had 40 workers , this year 20 and with sales falling due to cheap machine made imports they don't know how long they will last.
I thought how glad i am to have lived in a time where i can appreciate and still see these hand crafting skills before technology and computers finally render them museum pieces.
Yet come back to here to electronically write about them in this virtual mass of electronic impulses.
Today I recommend: Holding on
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3 comments
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colab |
about 1 year ago |
- I know exactly what you're talking about. Back in Sweden in the southern parts of Småland there is a very long standing tradition of art glass (and some of the brands are quite well known today, such as Kosta Boda and Orrefors); but even these companies are running on pretty tight margins.
It's an incredible industry, of very dedicated and passionate people who practice their craft day in and day out.
The real key is that they will continue to exist as long as there's support in terms of people buying their products. The challenge is that for many people starting out who would probably appreciate a nice glass item for their house, spending a couple of hundred dollars when there are cheaper knock-offs available, is a tough sell. -
loveshadow |
about 1 year ago |
- Thanks for that Colab i will go have a look at those brands.
The one thing that was calming was the wood smoke in the atmosphere.
The hot glass was placed on an old slatted wooden bench scorched with the marks of thousands of hot items and every time a new piece was made it was set down on there with a faint whisper of wood smoke.
It will be those who continue to build and craft with their hands that will inherit the earth as the meek will fade away in a powercut. -
rodney |
about 1 year ago |
- Sounds great. Thanks for posting this, it's really interesting reading.
