How to Make Glass Figurines

Glass figurines are small, decorative designs that enhance a space on their own or may be used in conjunction with a larger piece. Figurines can be made using a variety of glass processes including the lampworking technique: the method of shaping glass in the flame of a torch. This article focuses on making a flower figurine which will give you good practice on how to work with the glass without using a lot of material.

Things You'll Need

• Torch kit with propane or MAPP gas
• Pressurized oxygen (not required for Hot Head torches)
• Didymium safety lenses
• Ventilation system
• Clear or colored rod: 8 mm
• Graphite plate
• Tweezers
• Vermiculite or kiln

Instructions

1. Set up your lampworking station, if you have not already done so. Your work space includes a torch kit, pressurized oxygen and ventilation system. Be sure to wear didymium safety lenses whenever you are working with glass. (If you need information about how to set up your studio, refer to the first item in Resources).

2. Rotate and heat the 8 mm rod in the flame of your torch so that it gathers into a ball. When the gather is molten, press it down on the graphite plate while rotating so that it forms a button about the size of a quarter.

3. Rotate and heat the button on the outside edge, until glowing white hot. Pull the glass out of the flame and use the tweezers to quickly pinch around the circumference. Do this as many times as you can, while the glass is still hot. If the glass cools, heat the edge in the flame again and repeat the pinch process. These pinches give you the petals of your flower.

4. Pull the last two or three pinches slightly up and out to allow your flower to gently curve into a conical shape. You can adjust the pull according to your preference.

5. Grasp the flower petals with the tweezers in one hand, use the other hand to hold the 8 mm rod and heat the portion of glass directly underneath. When glowing white hot, pull out of the flame and gently stretch the glass so that the flower's stem forms. Do the pull slowly so that you maintain control of the glass and form the type of stem you desire.

6. Bury the flower in vermiculite or place it in your kiln to anneal.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not put the tweezers directly in the flame because the heat will distort and damage your tool.

• Never begin lampworking until you understand the health and safety considerations and you have set up a proper ventilation system.

References

• Glassblowing An Introduction to Solid and Blown Glass Sculpturing; Homer L. Hoyt; 1989

Resources

• An Introduction to the Lampworkers Studio
• Lampwork Etc.
• Corning Museum of Glass