John

I was an exploration geologist and University Professor working in Botswana, Zambia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Portugal, and other countries before opening Artistry in Glass in 1986. In my more than 35 years of experience, I have brought my technical abilities as a scientist to the trade of glasswork. During this time I have become an industry expert in glass and glass-related skills. Watch out for special insider tips developed from my detailed knowledge of the glass business.

Swarovski crystal figurines – history to 2023 with images

by John

Creation of crystal mini-mouse by Max Schreck

Swarovski crystal figurines have become a multi-billion dollar industry since their introduction in 1976. Thousands of beautiful designs have been created and are collected by millions of people. The Swarovski Crystal Society (SCS) has over 450,000 members in more than 40 countries. What is the history of Swarovski crystal figurines and why are they so popular? Swarovski’s legendary crystal figurines owe their popularity to top-quality materials, extremely high production standards, innovative design, and world-class marketing. A brief history of the Swarovski company The Swarovski company was founded by Daniel Swarovski in 1895, in the Austrian village of Wattens. Daniel invented … Read more

Proving that Artistry in Glass is trustworthy – in 2023

by John

Trust comes from competence, honesty & benevolence

With the aim of penalizing content that is untrustworthy, Google continues to emphasize E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authority, and trust) in order to discourage and penalize misleading or potentially dangerous advice (especially on topics characterized as YMYL (your money or your life). At Artistry in Glass, we have operated according to the highest ethical principles since our foundation in 1986. In this post, we explain how we have adhered to and exceeded the tenets of Google’s recommendations in using E-E-A-T to prove that we are trustworthy. Furthermore, we extend our ethical profile by explaining how we achieve trust by acting in … Read more

Restoring Dalle de Verre at Holy Hope Cemetery, Tucson, AZ

by John

Holy Hope Cemetery restoration of dalles de verre

Although Dalles de Verre, with its 1″ thick slabs of glass, is much stronger than conventional leaded stained glass, it is still vulnerable to determined vandalism.

This was the case in early 2022 when unknown miscreants attacked the sign resulting cracking of the epoxy resin matrix and the breaking and removal of numerous glass dalles.

Is wired glass safe? Learn the bad news from an expert!

by John

Wired glass is made by embedding steel mesh into molten glass. The wire is supposed to be a fire-resistant safety feature – holding the glass together in the event of a fire – giving building occupants time to escape before the fire spreads. For this reason, wired glass has traditionally been referred to as safety glass. However, many lines of evidence show that wired glass is not safe. In particular, the wire in wired glass reduces its impact resistance by up to 50% – making wired glass easier to break than regular annealed glass. Furthermore, the fragments of razor-sharp broken glass, … Read more

What is tempered glass? Find out from a glass professional!

by John

Tempered glass is used for shower and patio doors, tabletops, and windows throughout our homes & businesses. But what is tempered glass and how is it made? Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that is stronger than annealed glass and also safer – because when broken it forms harmless popcorn fragments. Tempered glass, sometimes called “toughened” glass is made by heating annealed glass to about 1200 °F (650 °C) – a temperature at which it begins to soften. The outer surfaces are then cooled rapidly creating a solid skin of glass surrounding the still hot center. This procedure, … Read more

Broken glass injuries and how to avoid them – expert tips!

by John

Glass is a wonderful material with unique properties and an incredible range of uses in architecture, science, technology, and the arts. However, it can also be dangerous or even deadly – primarily because it is very sharp when broken. Glass is dangerous because of its extreme sharpness. Broken glass injuries include cuts, deep-level lacerations, shock, severed limbs, & even bleeding to death. Learn all about broken glass injuries – and how to avoid them in this comprehensive post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases Why is glass dangerous? The primary property that makes glass dangerous and life-threatening … Read more

What is safety glass & why is it important?

by John

Glass is an amazing substance with countless uses in residential and commercial buildings. However, it has one major drawback – it is brittle and breaks into razor-sharp shards that are very dangerous and even life-threatening. For this reason, several types of so-called “safety” glass have been engineered to lessen the risks of injuries. So, what is safety glass & why is it important? Safety glass is specially engineered to prevent serious injuries caused by razor-sharp shards of annealed glass. The two main types are tempered and laminated. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases Artistry in Glass cannot … Read more

Can tempered glass be cut? Reliable facts from an expert!

by John

Tempered glass breaks into popcorn fragments

Tempered glass is 4 to 5 times stronger than regular annealed glass and is used for shower and patio doors and anywhere in the home where safety is necessary. However, it cannot be cut, notched, or drilled once tempered. Many misleading websites claim that tempered glass can be cut – but this is not true – if you try to cut or drill tempered glass it will explode into pieces. Can tempered glass be cut? NO! The ludicrous idea suggested by such prestigious websites as WikiHow is that you should: “Gain access to a kiln that you can use to … Read more