History & Techniques

Kiln Formed Glass Techniques

History of Fused Glass

As far back as 2000 B.C., the Egyptians and the Romans were using melted glass for artistic purposes and were undoubtedly the most advanced glass formers of that time. This method of forming glass was known as fusing.

This glass method became less popular making way for interest in glass blowing. The melted glass technique was almost forgotten about until the beginning of the 20th Century when American glass artists revived the process which became known as 'glass fusion'. This is the most common term for this process today which involves the melting together of 2 or more different glasses. This medium is very popular amongst glass artists. This age old technique of kiln-forming glass together has amazing results due to the transformation of glass when combined with heat. Each firing produces unique and unexpected results especially when using inclusions in the glass such as metal, copper and wire. The process is very time consuming but exciting. The results from working with this unpredictable material continue to inspire creative glass artists today.

Handmade Fused Glass The design process involves cutting the glass from hand-rolled sheets of glass. At A.W. Originals, we use different ranges of glass that have been tested to ensure that the expansion coefficient of each piece of glass is matched. As glass heats inside a kiln, it contracts and expands. Since the process of creating fused glass involves dealing with layers of glass, which start to flow together when the temperature increases in the kiln. However, if the COEs of the layers of glass don’t match then the layers have difficulties in doing this and eventually will break apart and crack. Therefore, it is important that glasses of the same COE are used to create the piece. The cut pieces of glass are cleaned and placed carefully on a clear base glass in the kiln and fused together to form one piece of glass. As the glass is handmade, there are slight perfections which are the unique characteristics seen in fused glass art.

Glass Fusing Process

Glass fusing is the process of joining two pieces of glass together in a kiln. When you apply heat to glass, it will soften. If the heat is increased to higher temperatures, the glass becomes more fluid and this is where the base glass and coloured glass 'fuse' together.

All works should not be reproduced and/or copied without the express permission of the artist.