The Delicate Art of Carving on Glass

Carving on glass is one of Iran’s handicrafts, which is more popular in Isfahan than in other cities. Today, in countries like China and Italy, some artisans have resorted to the art of carving on glass, following the example of Iranians.

In this art, patterns are created on the glass and crystal dishes and decorated using hand and machine tools.

Tools Used for Carving on Glass

The main tools used in this art are drill-like devices with two- or three-part edges. Since carving on the glass may cause chips and sharp edges, sandpaper is also used to smoothen the sharp edges and roughness created by carving.

Types of Carving on Glass

Probably, the art of carving on glass is as old as the date of discovery of this product. Silica sands, which are abundant in the eruption of volcanoes, are used in making glass. According to the existing findings, glassmaking in Iran dates back to the era of the Elamite civilization (3200 to 2700 BC). In the new methods of glass production, silica sand is combined with limestone and some other materials and heated inside the furnace until it melts. Then this molten material is cooled in a special mold to make a glass container.

Like any other art, carving on glass has evolved over time and different types of it have been created. Here are some of the most common and popular designs carved on glass:

Carving Colored Flowers on Glass

In Iran, some types of glass used for interior decoration are known as “aged-old glass”. These types of glass are produced after a long and difficult process. Those who produce such types of glass are very few and do not reveal the secrets of their craft. However, one of the techniques for creating cracks on glass and making it age-old is the sudden cooling of the glass that has been under intense heat in the furnace.

In this method, the heated material is immersed in a large container of cold water and immediately returned to the furnace to prevent it from being crushed. This method requires a lot of skill and experience because if there is the slightest delay, the glass will shatter. It is necessary to know the type and thickness of the glass and adjust the temperature of the furnace and water and the time of heating the glass to obtain a suitable product.

The so-called age-old glass is given an impressive effect by using golden flowers. Due to the high cost of gilding these types of glassware, sometimes copper is also used to color the flowers carved.

Carving Natural Elements on Glass

In this method, natural shapes and elements are carved on the glass. Using the image of nature and animals is one of the differences between this style and other types of glass carving styles.

In this method, motifs such as flowers and shrubs, which are among the original Iranian designs in the production of handicrafts, are used.

Glass Carving Machine

In the past, manual tools were used to carve on glass, but nowadays these tools have lost their use and more advanced machine tools have replaced them. The new devices are designed in both standing and mobile (rotating) ways, each of which creates special features in the products. Standing machines increase the production quantity by having a higher speed. In contrast, although mobile machines have a lower speed, they allow the application of finer patterns and are better for parts that have sharp and uneven edges.

Use the Art of Carving on Glass on Mirrors and Crystals

Artists who had become skilled at carving on glassware gradually applied their art to decorate other objects and, in this way, carving on mirrors and crystal items also came to be spread along with carving on glass. The art of carving on glass is used for every type of glassware, mirrors, and vessels.

Carving on glass is one of Iran’s handicrafts, which is more popular in Isfahan than in other cities. Today, in countries like China and Italy, some artisans have resorted to the art of carving on glass, following the example of Iranians.