Glass Blowing Craft of Tamil Nadu

Glass blowing dates back to 1 BCE, but it wasn’t until the early 16th century that the Mughals introduced the art to India. Glass blowing is the process of creating various types of glass materials. The glass, which is kept in its liquid form, is shaped into a variety of shapes and sizes. The glass is first melted in a furnace using whole compounds of limestone, potash, ash, and sand. It  is melted from raw materials at a temperature of 2000 °F, turning into a bright orange. Following that, the temperature is reduced slightly and the moulding process starts. Glass blowing generally requires the use of many tools, including jacks, marver, tweezers, blocks, shears, blowpipe, pontil, and paddles. Skilled glass blowers and glass smiths receive extensive training before entering the industry.