Cooling the formed glass product at a controlled rate of temperature change for the purpose of relieving thermal stress. The appropriate cooling curve varies with glass type and formed shape, especially thickness.

A. Full Antique: Term applied to art glass produced by the historical mouth-blown cylinder method. The craftsman blows a glass cylinder which is annealed and cooled. The cylinder is then scored lengthwise, separated, re-heated and folded out into a flat sheet. Common characteristics include attractive linear striations and a very pristine surface.

B. Drawn Antique: Also called semi-antique, machine antique or new antique. A simulated full-antique produced by the Vertical Draw method (see Sheet Forming Methods). The textural striations are mechanically applied. Quality is excellent and cost is less than full antique. GNA (German New Antique) is a common example.

C. Scribed Antique: A simulated full antique produced by the Double Roll method (see Sheet Forming Methods). The linear striations are scribed into the hot glass surface. Quality is excellent and cost is considerably less than full antique. Introduced by Spectrum® Glass in 1996 under the trade name Artíque®, and now produced by Oceanside Glass and Tile®.

See Scribed Antique, above.

Oceanside Compatible™ term for non-fusible Art Glass products that colored outside of the lines during production. These gorgeous sheets of glass, when available are offered at healthy discounts for stained glass and mosaic artisans looking for a few hidden gems. Sold as available, in full or half cases and identified with the “-AG” alpha code following the stock number.

A machine made “reamy” glass, created by combining glasses of mis-matched compositions. The different glasses “oppose” each other when they are stirred together, creating artistic 3-D swirls. An Oceanside exclusive.

Glass which has been heated in a kiln from room temperature to a temperature high enough to cause it to soften and slump (sag) into or over a mold. The finished item takes the shape of the mold. Also called “curved glass.”

Cold glass (usually clear, thick plate) with edges that have been ground and polished to an angle other than 90 degrees. Transmitted light is refracted and a prism-like effect results. Bevels are available in a variety of sizes, shapes and geometric configurations (called “clusters”) for incorporation into leaded glass work.

A glass ingot, similar to a dalle, used in glass casting.

See Coefficient of Expansion.

Channeled strips of lead, zinc or other metal used to bind glass pieces within a design. (See Leaded Glass.)

A cane is a long and narrow piece of glass, usually in the form of a rod (round in cross-section). Canes are made by stretching a mass of hot glass to the desired thickness, and are often made with encased designs that can be seen from the side or when cut in cross section.

A glass art medium in which glass is melted in, or melted and then poured into, a pre-shaped mold to create a desired shape, often with great detail. Frit casting is a popular form of casting on a smaller scale using molds made for the purpose. Finished frit castings can be stand-alone art or can be incorporated into other fused work.

Describes transparent glass that is monochromatic—i.e., single color sheet glass, with smooth or textured surfaces.

(Single Roll forming method.) A surface texture resulting from the chilling of hot glass on a cool table. The appearance is likened to the paw prints of a cat.

The ratio of the change in length or volume of a glass to its original length or volume per unit change in temperature. Used to help determine compatibility of different glasses for the fusing process. (See Compatible and Tested Compatible.)

Eggshell-thin glass shards, made by shattering thinly blown colored glass. Confetti can be incorporated into a fused or blown glass design. 

A process in which a rake-like tool is drawn across molten glass to create artistic patterns.

Glasses are said to be compatible if, after being fused together by blowing or kiln forming and properly annealed, they remain relatively free from internal stress. (See Coefficient of Expansion.)

(Blown Cylinder method.) The hot cylinder of glass is dipped in liquid, causing radical, random fissures in the glass. The cylinder is then reheated and further blown to heal the surface fissures. Resulting surface resembles the texture of alligator skin.

Glass scraps, generally created as a by-product in glass making.

Thick (usually 1”) slabs of cathedral glass.

An art glass medium in which dalles are broken into pieces with a carbon hammer and set in an epoxy base to adhere them in a decorative design. Dependent on large scale for best appearance, they are primarily used in architectural applications such as church walls. 

Commonly used term to describe glasses that have been coated with one or more ultra-thin crystalline layers of transparent metal oxides designed to enhance reflections at specific wavelengths of light. The process occurs in a vacuum chamber at elevated temperatures. The resulting effects are striking and brilliant color reflections at varying angles of incidence.

Glass sheets with multiple dramatic folds, likened to those in hanging drapes.

A numerical designation assigned to a glass to describe its Coefficient of Expansion.

Glass of one color with a very thin layer of another color on one side. Flashed glass is often used for etched or sandblasted glass art. When sections of the thin color layer are removed, the base color shows through.

Heat-resistant ceramic products that range from paper-thin to ¼-inch thick. Products can be used to protect a kiln shelf (Papyros® kiln shelf paper for example), used in damming, or to help create shapes in glass fusing and slumping processes.

Chemical agent (liquid or paste) used to facilitate the flow of solder and prevent formation of oxides during soldering.

Frit is crushed glass, ranging in particle size from a fine powder (F1) to sizes useful in mosaic work (F7). While frit is sometimes used as a raw material in glass manufacture, it is known to artists as a coloring agent or used to create decorative effects in blowing and fusing. Frit is often used in fusing to produce a look similar to painted works of art.

Glass forms produced by placing different pieces of glass in contact with each other in an arranged design, then firing them in a kiln at a temperature high enough to fuse them into one piece of glass. Also known as “kiln-formed glass.”

Oceanside products that display “-FR” after the stock number indicates that they are Tested Oceanside Compatible, yet fall outside of a stock item’s standard visual characteristic range (color, translucency, surface, mix, etc.). FR glass can provide a great alternative option to standard products for glass fusion artisans whose creations do not require strict color tolerances for their work. Sold as available, in full or half cases.

In the single roll process (see Sheet Forming Methods), thin glass shards (fractures) and/or thin glass string (streamers) are arranged on the casting table before the glass is poured, and thus pressed into the glass sheet as it is formed.

See Nugget.

A texture created on the surface of cold glass by applying hot animal glue and allowing it to dry under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. As the glue dries and contracts, it chips the glass surface in a lacy, organic and attractive pattern, similar to frost on a window pane.

Common name for colored glasses in the pink/cranberry/fuchsia range that require gold oxide as a coloring agent.

Sheet glass produced by the single roll method (see Glass Sheet-Forming Methods).

Although not really “carving,” kiln-carving is a technique that creates the appearance that part of the glass surface has been carved away. The process is usually achieved using thick ceramic fiber paper that is cut and placed underneath the glass when it’s fired in a kiln. The glass is heated hot enough to allow the glass to form around the cut fiber shapes to take on the desired design.

Surface treatment in which a layer of metallic oxide is bonded to the hot glass surface just after sheet-forming, resulting in a colorful, shimmering effect.

A piece of glass that has been cut and faceted or press-molded into a geometric shape like a jewel. Often incorporated into leaded glass artwork.

A. Sheet glass pieces joined with metal strips, usually made of lead, called “came.” Solder is applied to the joints of the came to bond the work together. B. Glass containing lead as a raw material (as in “leaded crystal”)..

Italian for “a thousand flowers.” Commonly refers to glass objects made from masses of murrini slices.

A picture or decorative design made by setting small pieces of a hard material (such as glass, tile, or stone) onto a surface.

An opalescent glass in which rates of crystal growth have been controlled to create areas of opacity on the surface in a visually mottled effect. See also Ring Mottle.

A thin slice of complex, patterned glass cane that can be used as a component in another glass object.

A thin and flat, fettuccini-like, length of glass used as a decorative element in the hot glass arts.

(See also Glass Blowing Nuggets.) A small, irregularly shaped “glob” of glass, flat on the bottom, rounded across the top. Nuggets are made by literally dropping a small amount of molten glass onto a flat surface. Frequently called “globs,” they are often incorporated into leaded glass artwork, or created from tested compatible glass for fused work.

A line of tested-compatible products for the hot glass arts made by Oceanside Glass and Tile®. Oceanside Compatible products are formulated with the COE of 96 and are fully compatible with System 96 products.

Said of any glass into which a raw material has been introduced into the formulation (usually fluorine or phosphorus) which causes a degree of crystallization to occur, and creates opacity in the glass. (Reflected light is colorless, therefore white.) The degree of opacity (and “whiteness”) is variable depending upon composition and temperatures used in the manufacturing process. White glass is commonly called “opal.”

1. Solid Color Opalescent Glass: Glass which is both colored and crystallized, made into a single color sheet. Sometimes called “opaque” glass.

2. Mixed Opalescent Glass: White glass (opal) mixed with one or more other colors to create a variegated, multi-colored sheet. Light transmission varies with composition. Also called “variegated opalescent,” sometimes “streaky” or “wispy.”

Glass on which special paints (containing frit powder) have been applied in illustration or decorative pattern and then heated in a kiln to a temperature high enough to fuse the pigments permanently to the glass surface. The modern version of the original medieval “stained glass.”

An art glass medium in which powdered glass frits are spread in a decorative design, then fired in a kiln.