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Caneworking refers to a glassblowing technique that is used to add intricate patterns to vessels or other blown glass objects.
First, 7-10 mm diameter cane is prepared. This cane is often referred to as "zanfirico." Small amounts of molten color rod or frits are variously applied to a cylinder of molten glass on a punty (pontil). Precise geometric patterns may be accomplished with the help of an optical mold and pre-pulled, thin single color 2-3 mm canes. The patterns created within the radial-vertical axis of the cylinder will dictate the appearance of the resulting cane.
A second punty with a bit of molten glass is applied to the other end of the cylinder by a helper. Both glassworkers then hold their punties horizontally, and hand spin them rapidly as they slowly walk away from each other. The molten glass cylinder is pulled and twisted into a long cane, which cools and solidifies within minutes. The cane is then cut into small sections.
Alternatively, the molten glass is not twisted. One glassworker climbs on a ladder, while the other pulls down on one end of the cane with diamond shears.
Several sections of cane are lined up on a steel plate, and heated slowly to avoid cracking of the canes. When the surface of the canes just begins to melt, the canes adhere to each other. The tip of a glassblowing pipe (blowpipe) is thinly covered with clear molten glass, and made to touch one corner of the aligned canes. The tip of the blowpipe is then made to roll along the bottom of the canes, to which they stick.
The canes are now aligned cylindrically around the edge of the blowpipe. They are heated further until soft enough to shape. The cylinder of canes is sealed at the bottom with jacks and tweezers, to form the beginning of a bubble.
The bubble is then blown using traditional glassblowing techniques.
Hand-pulled and twisted glass canes | | |
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