A History of Glassforming

Abstract

Cummings asks in what ways do the final forms of glass artefacts and products relate to the specific nature of glass and the methods invented over its history to shape it? The research involved an examination of the conventional taxonomic approaches in written accounts of glass artefacts; with the intent to expose the presumptions and gaps that prevent a fuller understanding of the material history. The work moves to expose the forces involved in the evolution of glass as a series of individual and collective creative decisions. The author examined the relationships between the unique material properties of glass, and the methods and processes used to shape it; with specific focus upon technology, tools, and equipment. The focus is upon the fact that glass becomes more and less liquid in relationship to temperature, furthermore glass acts as a universal solvent allowing artists to experiment with a range of materials that affect colour, transparency, opacity and the relationship between surface and body