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Glittering Glass

 How artists craft unique objects out of glass

Corning Museum of Glass

A holiday display of glass ornaments at the Corning Museum of Glass, a part of Corning Glass Works in New York

As you read, think about what causes the properties of glass to change. 

Corning Museum of Glass

Glass ornaments are a sure sign that the holidays are here. The first glass ornaments were made in the early 1800s in Germany. At that time, people typically 

used food to decorate Christmas trees. According to folklore, a poor German glassmaker didn’t have enough food to put on his tree—so he made decorations out of glass! 

Germany became famous for its glass ornaments, which were popular in the U.S. But in the early 1940s, the U.S. was fighting against Germany in World War II. During the war, the U.S. didn’t buy German-made glass ornaments.

That’s when Corning Glass Works in Western New York began making ornaments out of glittering glass. Today, artists and factory workers there create all kinds of glassware! 

Glass ornaments are a sure sign the holidays are here. Glass ornaments were first made in Germany in the early 1800s. People at that time used food to decorate Christmas trees. A folk tale says a poor German glassmaker didn’t have enough food for his tree. So he made decorations out of glass! 

Germany became famous for its glass ornaments. They were popular in the U.S. But in the early 1940s, the U.S. was fighting Germany in World War II. At that time, Americans didn’t buy German products.

That’s when the Corning Glass Works began making glass ornaments. It’s a U.S. company in Western New York. Today, workers there create all kinds of glassware! 

Making Glass

What allows Corning artists to shape glass into fantastic objects? It has to do with the material’s unique properties.

Glass begins as a mineral called silica. It’s the same substance found in the sand on beaches. The silica is heated to about 1,260°C (2,300°F) in a furnace. That intense heat causes the silica to undergo a chemical change. It changes into a new substance, a thick, lava-like liquid glass. 

Artists use metal tools to shape the molten glass. To make the hollow parts of ornaments and vases, they place the glass at the end of a long metal tube and carefully blow, forming a bubble (see Glassmaking Process, below).

When artists finish shaping the glass, they place it in a type of oven that cools it evenly. That’s when something special happens. Most solid matter is made up of particles arranged in a fixed pattern. But glass cools so quickly, its particles don’t have time to arrange into a pattern, says glass scientist Jane Cook. The disorganized structure of glass makes it easier than most solids to heat and shape.

Sometimes, artists shape the glass into cylinders, which then cool and harden. Later, they soften the glass with a torch to sculpt it into anything from an animal to Santa Claus!

What allows Corning artists to shape glass into amazing objects? It has to do with the material’s  unique properties.

Glass begins as silica. It’s a mineral that’s found in sand on beaches. The silica is heated in a furnace. It reaches about 1,260°C (2,300°F). The high heat causes a chemical change. The silica turns into a new substance. It’s thick, lava-like liquid glass. 

Artists use metal tools to shape the molten glass. They place the glass at the end of a long metal tube. They carefully blow into the other end. This forms a bubble inside the glass. This allows workers to make hollow parts of ornaments and vases (see Glassmaking Process, below).

Artists place the finished glass in a type of oven. It cools the glass evenly. That’s when something special happens. Most solid matter is made up of particles arranged in a fixed pattern. But glass cools very quickly. As a result, its particles don’t have time to arrange into a pattern, says Jane Cook. She’s a glass scientist. Glass’s structure makes it easier than most solids to heat and shape.

Sometimes, artists shape glass into cylinders. The cylinders cool and harden. Later, workers soften the glass with a hot torch. They sculpt the softened glass. It can be shaped into anything, from an animal to Santa Claus!

Glass Making Process

Corning Museum of Glass

Artists blow into a long metal pipe to create a bubble in heated glass.

Artists blow into a long metal pipe to create a bubble in heated glass.

Corning Museum of Glass

Soft pieces of glass can be added to the object.

Soft pieces of glass can be added to the object.

Corning Museum of Glass

Artists use metal tools to add the finishing touches.

Artists use metal tools to add the finishing touches.

Glass Making Process

Corning Museum of Glass

Artists blow into a long metal pipe to create a bubble in heated glass.

Artists blow into a long metal pipe to create a bubble in heated glass.

Corning Museum of Glass

Soft pieces of glass can be added to the object.

Soft pieces of glass can be added to the object.

Corning Museum of Glass

Artists use metal tools to add the finishing touches.

Artists use metal tools to add the finishing touches.

Glass to the Rescue

Most glass objects can be easily broken. But Corning also produces glass used to make scientific tools like beakers. This glass has chemical elements added. They make it harder to break. 

Recently, Corning created a new type of glass, called Valor Glass. It’s used to store lifesaving Covid-19 vaccines. It’s 10 times stronger than most glass. It has aluminum added, and it’s treated with a type of salt. “That gives an armor coating to the surface of the glass,” says Cook. 

Glass is all around us, from ornaments to vaccine vials. Corning scientists keep studying new ways to make glass. They will likely find new uses for this amazing material.

Most glass objects can be easily broken. But Corning also produces glass used to make scientific tools like beakers. This glass has chemical elements added. They make it harder to break.

Recently, Corning created a new type of glass, called Valor Glass. It’s used to store lifesaving Covid-19 vaccines. It’s 10 times stronger than most glass. It has aluminum added, and it’s treated with a type of salt. “That gives an armor coating to the surface of the glass,” says Cook.

Glass is all around us, from ornaments to vaccine vials. Corning scientists keep studying new ways to make glass. They will likely find new uses for this amazing material.

COMPARING SOLIDS

SCHOLASTIC INC.

ORGANIZED STRUCTURE (left)

Most solid matter is made up of particles arranged in a fixed pattern.

DISORGANIZED STRUCTURE (right)

Glass particles don’t arrange into a pattern.

ORGANIZED STRUCTURE (left)

Most solid matter is made up of particles arranged in a fixed pattern.

DISORGANIZED STRUCTURE (right)

Glass particles don’t arrange into a pattern.

COMPARING SOLIDS

SCHOLASTIC INC.

ORGANIZED STRUCTURE (left)

Most solid matter is made up of particles arranged in a fixed pattern.

DISORGANIZED STRUCTURE (right)

Glass particles don’t arrange into a pattern.

ORGANIZED STRUCTURE (left)

Most solid matter is made up of particles arranged in a fixed pattern.

DISORGANIZED STRUCTURE (right)

Glass particles don’t arrange into a pattern.

Continue Your Learning

  • Glass ornaments are popular holiday decorations. What kind of glass ornament would you want for your holiday celebrations? Draw your own glass ornaments for the holidays—be sure to make them colorful and eye-catching!

Continue Your Learning

  • Glass ornaments are popular holiday decorations. What kind of glass ornament would you want for your holiday celebrations? Draw your own glass ornaments for the holidays—be sure to make them colorful and eye-catching!
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