Detail of Groovy from the Grid Series
Did you know glass isn’t technically or scientifically considered a solid? It’s an in between a liquid and a solid, called an amorphous solid. Did you know glass is made from sand? Liquid sand to be exact. Or how about that when glass cracks, the cracks move at 3000 miles per hour. I wanted to share a short history of glass, as it’s been the foundation of Karo Studios success and iconic artworks produced for collectors all over the world. Each Glass Grid, Accent Piece, or Naked Grid, that grace the walls of galleries, living rooms, offices, and hotel lobbies contains the magical element of glass.
The history of glass and glass making dates back to at least 3,600 BCE in the “The Cradle of Civilization,” ancient Mesopotamia. Starting with beads that might have been made accidentally, these beads played a crucial part not only in decoration but trade, finance, inventory and many fabrics of modern civilization. Outside of Mesopotamia, ancient glass has been found all over the world from the Roman Empire to India to China to England. Throughout human history glass was used as a utility, an art, and a vital trade commodity. One of the oldest, and the most valuable pieces of glass comes from Ancient Rome, called the Portland Vase.
The Portland Vase (photo credit: Jastrow)
Dated between AD and AD 25, it has served as great inspiration for generations of glass and porcelain makers. The vase is covered in historical and mythological scenes, and many scholars have concluded the scenes on the vase aren’t from just on set of iconography. Moving forward in history, these same themes can be found replicated across churches, and religious sites all over the globe. The same process to create the colorful glass or these iconoclastic images coloring the insides of churches is used today to create glass artworks in the Karo Studios shop.
Chartres Cathédrale (Photo credit: Eusebius (Guillaume Piolle)
Now, of course, this wouldn’t be a complete examination of glass without getting into how glass is made. In short, glass is made from applying immense heat to sand. There is of course a lot more to it, but words can’t capture the beauty of glass making. Take this video of Glass Marbles being made:
Right? To get a sense of what goes into a Karo Studios glass wall sculpture this video on Opalescent glass is created:
Whether it’s produced in an artisanal setting or an industrial factory, each piece of glass is truly unique. From the color process, to the way the elements dance together to create swirls and shapes within the glass. This is one of the greatest joys of creating with this unique medium, and each work of Karo Studios glass art wall sculptures carries the history of glass with it.
Today, we forgot how much glass is all around us from windows to our iPhone screens (although everyone remembers their iPhones are mostly glass when they crack). Outside of the ordinary everyday objects though, glass plays a key part in many of our memories. Maybe it’s the abundance of glass in our world or that it is so clear we don’t notice it. Many of us might have fond memories of the smell of our mother’s or grandmother’s perfume. The most important women in our lives, sitting at their makeup table, spraying perfume to cast their signature scent. What about the ornate bottles that hold the sweet scented liquids? Or perhaps you grew up in a household that had ornate “crystal,” vases and serving plates. Well, those are glass too, a special decorative type of glass called Bohemian glass. Others, might have traveled or received a gift from someone who traveled to Italy or more specifically to Venice - the home of ultra-luxury Murano glass. For a large handful of us, our earliest connections to glass are the massive and ornate stained glass windows at church. Or for collectors of Karo Studios glass art sculptures, the memory might be the day your Glass Grid was installed in your home.