Glassblowing: From Gather to Form

A glassblower gathers molten glass on the end of a hollow blowpipe and inflates it to create a hollow form. In flameworking, a heated tube is blown directly, unlike the furnace process used with a blowpipe.^[1,2]

Molten glass is gathered on the blowpipe and rolled on a working plate before the first bubble is inflated. Reheating and tools guide successive stages; the hot gather can also be swung or shaped in a mould.^[1,2]

In free blowing, the glassblower develops a form with breath, movement and tools. In mould blowing, a mould guides the outline or surface as the hot glass expands. Both methods begin with a gather on the blowpipe.^[1]