Making A Simple Murrine
These steps show the basics of murrine
construction. All work is done in the flame using only glass.
This murrine is a signature cane, but the process is the same for
all murrine. If you wanted to make a face
you would make a cane for the eyes, nose, ears and mouth, then
join them together, adding shading with different
hues. It is a lot like painting with molten glass. A simple cane
like this one can take about three hours. The complex
murrine we make can take up to two weeks to complete, and can be
the size of a softball before we pull them down to a cane!
We love to talk murrine, so if you have any questions about the
process email us here.
The start of a 'C'
The 'C' takes shape
Molten glass is 'painted on' to fill spaces and complete the design
Adding more glass to cover the outside of the cane. Arrows show the stroke direction
The 'C' is complete. Glass is added to both ends so as not to distort the cane when it is pulled down
Large glass rods are melted on to both ends for
handles. The mass of glass is heated to the point where it almost
drips.
It is then pulled into a cane form.
A section of the 'C' cane is cut with glass nippers and placed into a kiln at 1000F. Note the size difference from the original mass.
The 'J' is constructed in the same way
The finished 'J'. A piece of the cane is cut and put into the kiln
The C and J are removed from the kiln and melted together. More glass is added to fill the gaps
Another color is added to the outside for contrast
The cane is pulled down the same way as the C and J
The final cane is nipped short and put into the
kiln to anneal. After a day of slow cooling
the cane is removed and small slices are cut- murrine!
Click HERE for the complete tutorial