Glass Fusing

Art glass, AKA fused glass, or warm glass, is made from specially formulated glass which expands and contracts at the same rate.
It is hand-cut and assembled in layers which are then melded together (fused) by firing in a kiln at around 1480 degrees F.
Some pieces are painted with metal luster paints before a second firing at around 1200 degrees. Other pieces may be fired a second time to slump (melt) the piece into a mold, in order to shape it into a bowl or other three-dimensional object.
Traditional glass painting and frit (glass powder) paintings require multiple firings as colors are built up in layers.
 

 
1) Specially formulated glass is cut and assembed
in layers.		   1B) Powdered glass, glass wafers and stringers assembled and just about ready for firing 1C) Chucks of green Moretti on top of
blue iridescent glass before firing.
 

2) Glass pieces stacked in the kiln prior to heating to approx. 1480 degrees F, with controlled cooling.   3A) After firing the pieces are fused together
and edges are rounded		 3B) This piece was fired a bit hotter,
so it's completely flat
 

4A) After firiing, some pieces are painted
with gold or sliver luster paint

  

5A) Back into the kiln for controlled heating to
around 1200 degrees F, and slow cooling 

6A) Gold luster paint after firing.

 


4B) Other pieces are placed in a mold to shape the object into a bowl or other 3D shape.
 

  

5B) Back into the kiln, to be heated just enough for the glass to slump into the desired shape.

6B) "Joy," iridescent cranberry glass bowl
was painted with gold luster,
and then fired in the bisque mold to the left.
 

6C) Traditional glass painting techniques require separate firings for each paint color.

6D) "Toucan's Dance" was built in layers with powdered glass (frit) glass wafers, glass string (stringers) and paint (for the dancing figures)
It was fired about 5 times.

Miscellaneous shapes and colors of
dichroic glass
Click on image for more info..

© Copyright 2008 Stacey & Leland Dennick
All rights reserved
This site was last updated on 5/18/08


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To learn more about fusing and slumping see www.warmglass.com 
"Shark dish" Fused iridescent and dichroic glass
slumped into a dish shape.