Its manufacture derives from skills accumulated over the centuries combined with experience and a great deal of training. Together, those glassmakers are the benefactors of a craft on which their successors continue to build. The ability to create such attractive products and to develop new techniques is a tribute to todays producers. Glassmaking schools were founded in the mid 19th century in response to growing demand around the world.
We can only give a brief description here of how crystal is made. The first step is performed by an expert 'blower' who 'gathers' the molten glass mixture at the end of an iron blowpipe and makes the blank shape by blowing the “gather” into a rough mould. Once cooled, the blank is then sketched, cut, polished and decorated. Despite the use of modern technology (which has contributed greatly to advances in quality) manufacturing still relies on techniques acquired over the years. From the mouth blowing of the raw product, to its final hand finishing manual, skill and dexterity are absolutely essential.
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