Dominic Nicholas Glass Work is created at different glass blowing studios in the San Francisco Bay Area. A piece of work is created by a 'gaffer' (see Glass Blowing Terminology on the links page) - the head glassblower - and one or more assistants depending upon the complexity and size of the piece. Generally a piece begins with a 'gather' of molten glass. The gather is collected onto a 'blowpipe' from the glass furnace which is at about 2000 degrees Fahrenheit (1100 Celcius). The gather is 'marvered' (cooled and shaped on a metal surface) and a small bubble is established in the hot glass. A solid layer of color is now used to encase the bubble and a more glass is gathered. Colored ground glass - 'frit' - is then applied and more clear glass gathered. The form is worked into shape by blocking, blowing, papering, marvering, jacking, tweezing, jack-n-cracking, pacioffies, sofiettas, shielding and a whole array of other esoteric terms. The piece may then be transfered to a 'punty' and shaped further before finally being 'boxed' in an annealer which is held at about 900 degrees Fahrenheit and gradually cooled slowly over eight hours or more. The piece may then be coldworked and completed.

All Dominic Nicholas glass is made by hand, using traditional methods and no molds are used.

To see an example of a lamp being made, you can view the Creation Slideshow under the Lighting section.

For more information about the History of Glass, see the links page.

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