Glass and Beauty
The Beauty and Allure of Glass
By Chris Robertson
When I was a small child I was enthralled by the artistic glass items my mother collected and used to decorate our home. Some of it came from Murano, a Venetian island with a centuries-old tradition glassmaking. I never forget the time when I broke one of her most beautiful pieces by accident. Later, a friend of mine became enthralled with stained glass and he and his wife made it a career. There is something magic about glass, and it can be used in so many ways.
Working with glass and converting it into art is a craft attempted by many but mastered by only a few. It takes talent, imagination and experience. But whether it's the glass artisan of tradition-rich places like Murano or a craftsman with his own small shop, magic in glass can be found anywhere. Be it stained glass in its many shapes and forms; mirrors, plaques and picture frames; or wall decorations and ornaments, it's all beautiful and can transform a home or space.
When I think about glass, I marvel at the many different ways it can be used. That's in no small part to the many qualities that set glass apart from almost any other material. Glass comes in any color imaginable. Glass can range from totally transparent to translucent to opaque. Artistic glass can contain the most stunning swirls and combinations of colors. Gold dust can be suspended in space, streaks of red and yellow and black can dramatically swoop, nothing seems impossible.
Add to that the inherent qualities of glass, its hardness, its smooth texture and consistency, its structural strength, and you have a material that modern life would not be possible without. And yet, while making window glass requires a sophisticated industrial process, working with fused glass, painting on glass, or making Christmas ornaments, frames for pictures and prints, or many other decorative items is sheer art.
Family events such as weddings, anniversaries, or special achievements can be etched in glass, to be kept forever. I've seen stunning world globes all made of glass, with brilliant colors for the oceans and the intricate mosaic of nations. I've seen mirrors enhanced by frames of sculpted glass, practical things like coasters and cheese plates made of colorful fused glass, bowls and votives with hand-painted designs, and endless variations of stained glass lamps of all shapes and sizes.
Another nice way of using glass is for personalized items. Almost anything can be made of glass and then engraved. Personalized glass Christmas ornaments will bring back fond memories after years and decades. Pictures frames commemorating a high school or college or your favorite sports team bring back memories whenever you look at them. Monogrammed glass wall hangings or clock faces make thoughtful gifts that are remembered.
There are few materials as suitable to decorate your home as glass is. Glass items come in so many shapes, colors and sizes that they can be used for almost anything. Your imagination is the only limit when it comes to using glass and decorating with glass.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world's MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Decorative Glass or Majon's Gifts and Collectibles directory.
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