VERMONT Magazine Holiday 2022 | Page 13

The Magic of Glass

The Magic of Glass

furnace . Inside the furnace , the chips fully melt into the glass . Once the glass is removed from the furnace , Trimpol begins smoothing the chips down and “ twisting ” them into the surface by rolling the glass on a flat steel table called a “ marver .” In the process , the individual chips begin to spread out and merge with the surface of the glass , forming a spotted , spiral pattern . Trimpol repeats the process of re-heating and smoothing several times , paying careful attention and making sure that the shape and texture of the glass maintains its symmetry .
At the end of the initial smoothing and twisting stage , the chips will have blended together into a solid spiral pattern on the surface of the glass . Trimpol then shapes the edge of the glass to a sharp point , and snips off the end with pliers . Afterwards , he uses specialized tongs known as “ jacks ” to further mold the glass , ensuring that it remains centered and symmetrical . When the glass is satisfactorily shaped , Trimpol takes it back to the melting furnace , where he gathers an additional layer of glass on top of the original layer . It is this process of continual gathering and shaping that allows him to create pieces with multiple layers of different colors . This technique is used in many of the other pieces made at Little River Hotglass , including their mesmerizing “ Vortex ” urns and bowls .
Following the second gather , Trimpol smooths the glass and brings it to the re-heating furnace . Upon removing the glass from the re-heating furnace , he cools it down and begins the blowing process before placing it back in the melting furnace for one final gather . According to Trimpol , it is important to blow gently into the rod when working with handblown glass , because a little bit of air goes a long way . “ You have to almost whisper ,” he adds .
After the third gather is complete , the layer of colored glass rests between two different layers of clear glass , adding depth and dimension to the piece .
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