Art glass is a luxury to be sure!

Art glass is the product of the earth’s elements, a quantity of chemical compounds, heat producing fire and tons of experimentation, patience, and persistence. It’s a prime example of an ancient art form. It has the unique ability to brighten your life with glorious scenes on the brilliance of glass.

It’s a special form of art. It seems not entirely liquid, nor entirely solid; it’s both, as well as intricate and flowing. In the last 30 years, glass art has seen a considerable increase in popularity. Many people choose to add glass sculptures to their art collections. Unfortunately, the very nature of glass sculpture makes it a fragile medium, so you need to handle and keep it with special care.

Art glass is the result of old-world appreciation of fine art married with cutting edge ultra-clear glass production. It’s a manufacturing process where each piece is unique. No two pieces of art glass are exactly the same.

It’s only for museums and those with fat pocketbooks. Luckily, that couldn’t be more from the truth. Glass art is available in every price range: from the simple Murano vases found for $5.99 to the studio pieces blown by renowned artists for hundreds or thousands of dollars. The most popular way to experience the beauty of glass is to collect it.

Because of its beauty and function, it’s been popular with collectors for decades. It’s unique and reflects the imagination and creativity of the artist. Part of the charm of glass is to use it – somehow a beverage tastes better when sipped through amberina, for example.

It’s one of life’s great rewards when a special piece is added to the elegance and style to your home. A yellow and orange swirled carnival glass vase sporting an arrangement of orange or gold chrysanthemums makes for an enchanting fall centerpiece for any table. A small crystal basket vase might be softened with a bunch of garden wildflowers. Even a simple red glass candy bowl filled with red and white peppermints becomes an attractive glass feature for the living room.

Art glass is used to make many types of items such as art glass vases, art glass windows and stained glass. It can be featured throughout the house. Obvious areas naturally include the kitchen and formal dining room, but even living rooms and bedrooms may feature various pieces. Like any collectible, you want to showcase these items with care. Rare pieces may even be kept behind glass and seldom used but for special occasions.

Its allure is the visual aesthetic of color, form and tactile sensation yet it’s the perfect marriage of art and function. It’s available in a variety of forms including laminated, etched, rolled, colored, and frosted, and may be used as accents or insets in doors or windows. Glass is more than functional—it is architectural. It gives the illusion of more space, increases natural lighting, and lends character to interior spaces. Architectural glass goes beyond architecture to become art, using textures, patterns, colors, and technique to define and highlight individual tastes.

Art glass is an excellent way to decorate a home for people that enjoy surrounding themselves with art made by skilled artists. Many people enjoy the sleek designs of vases and bowls to add color and style to a room. It’s available in a multitude of various styles

The reflection of vibrant colors, the capturing of light on every surface, is an enchanting addition to any home. The Olde English witch balls and calico friendship balls can be hung anywhere in your home and will add a new dimension to your windowscape. The balls are also a wonderful accent to your garden, hung on wrought iron, or weighted with a non-lead weight in your pond. Glass witch balls are a great gift.

Art glass is, without a doubt, the most elegant of the stretch glass lines, not only because of its base colors or shapes, but because of the richness of its stretch effect.

You should never, ever, allow liquid to remain inside glass art. After use, remove all liquid residues immediately. When using water in your art glass vases, you must change the water daily, and clean the inner walls of the vessel. Water is the worst enemy of your glass. When water is allowed to sit too long, or evaporate in the vessel, it will leave residue stains behind. The residue stains can result in calcium deposits and can be impossible to remove if the stain is left untreated. When using your special glass for table service, be sure it’s warmed with warm water before adding warm foods. Cool with cool water before adding cold foods. Be careful to position the glass so it doesn’t touch other objects on the table.

Art glass is also considered to have a magic power to repel evil energy and bring good luck to the house. Enjoy your beautiful glass.