Making a Glass Horse

This series of images was published in the trade magazine Pottery Gazette and Glass Trade Review for January 1951. The brief introductory text :

On this and the opposite page we show various stages in the making of a glass horse — one of many glass novelties now being made by Pirelli Glass, Ltd., at their factory in Potters Bar. All the animals are made by hand from glass rods produced by a well-known Stourbridge manufacturer.

In the making of the horse, no tools whatever are used, except tweezers to form the nostrils, mouth and cleft under the jaw. The body is built up from a glass rod heated in a blowpipe. This is then gathered in the flame and shaped, before the head, legs and tail are "flashed" on from another molten rod. Afterwards the animal is passed through a flame to eliminate all the marks at the joints and is finally annealed.

Although we illustrate the making of a horse, many other animals are produced, and attractive results are obtained by "flashing" on coloured glass for ears and other parts of the body.

The manipulation of glass is an old and fascinating craft, and in recent years these quaint, almost lovable, animals have achieved a great popularity. 

 
Making a glass horse 1
 1. The selected glass rod is heated in a blowpipe.
 Making a glass horse 2  Making a glass horse 3
 2. The shape is formed by gathering in the flame amf further glass is applied to form head and mane.  3. Right fore-leg being prepared for fusing.
 Making a glass horse 4  Making a glass horse 5
 4. Fore-leg is now shaped and hoof prepared.  5. The other fore-leg is applied.
 Making a glass horse 6  Making a glass horse 7
 6. Using extension stem from fore-leg, body is now gathered up.  7.  The body, having been shaped, a back leg is applied.
 Making a glass horse 8  Making a glass horse 9
 8. Now the second back leg is drawn down.  9. The body is heated to eliminate all marks of joins.
 Making a glass horse 10  Making a glass horse 11
10. Tail being applied. 11. Finally, a rough annealing in the blow-pipe.
 
Making a glass horse 12
12. The finished model.

Additional thanks to D. Encill

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