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In addition to the quartz, sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate traditionally used in glassmaking, boron is used in the manufacture of borosilicate glass. Its superior durability, chemical and heat resistance made it excellent for chemical laboratory equipment, cookware, lighting, and other products. Unexpectedly, new lampworking techniques in later years led to more artistic uses for this glass, such as jewelry making. Glass flameworking is done on a bench torch using an oxygen/propane flame. The process starts by melting clear glass tubes on a torch heated to 2500o F. The glass is manipulated in the flame with various hand tools, taking advantage of its ability to provide detail and delicacy to the work. Using the natural force of gravity, the glass is shaped and moved around until the desired shape is formed. Coloured glass rod and crushed or powdered glass are added to compliment and enhance the design. Because the creations are individually sculpted - without the use of molds - each piece of jewelry is unique. When completed, the pieces are placed in a kiln overnight to anneal, which increases the strength of the glass by adhering the molecules together. The annealing oven relieves the stress and makes the product durable enough to last a lifetime. Another old-world technique utilized by Rogue Wave Glassworks is the creation of Murinni. More common in Italy, Murinni is a skill only a handful of artists in North America have mastered. In fact, Craig is
one of the few artists in Canada using the technique in borosilicate glass. Hundreds of thinly pulled glass strands called glass stringers are layered cross-sectionally to create a mosaic image that runs consistently throughout the newly created glass cane. The result is hundreds of slivers of identical glass mosaic images. A mosaic image of Rogue Wave's corporate logo is included on each piece as a signature of authenticity. |
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