Sand casting glass

Sand casting glass is a forming technique in which molten glass is poured or ladled into a mould of compacted sand. The sand produces a granular, rough texture where it contacts the glass.

Form and surface

Corning Museum of Glass describes this characteristic contact surface. Norwegian technical writing also illustrates removing a sand-cast piece from its mould before annealing. Areas touching sand can differ from other surfaces. Distinguish this technique from sandblasting, which modifies an already formed surface.

Assessing glass art

Roughness is not necessarily damage, but neither does it prove sand casting. Compare texture, form, signature and documented production information. Describe chips, cracks and repairs separately from intentional texture. The technique alone identifies neither artist, studio nor production year. A coarse appearance should therefore not be used to assign an object to a particular Norwegian maker.

Sources: Corning Museum of Glass: Sand casting; Glassblåser Hanna Karlsen i Store norske leksikon: støping og norsk eksempel.