Blown Glass: The Art of Sculptural Light
At temperatures exceeding 2,000°F, molten crystal becomes a fluid material that can be gathered, stretched, inflated, and shaped by hand. In the Hammerton glass studio, artisans work within a narrow window of time to transform that intense heat into luminous forms with distinctive contours, textures, and movement.
Glass, reimagined
Glassmaking is an ancient craft, but Hammerton has developed its own approach through decades of experimentation and innovation. Our artisans combine traditional techniques with custom tooling and proprietary methods developed in our Salt Lake City workshop. This allows the team to create complex forms and textures specifically for lighting, giving designers a broader range of shapes, scale, and visual expression to work with.
Where heat shapes the design
Temperature plays a critical role throughout the process. As molten crystal moves between the furnace and the shaping process, artisans carefully monitor its condition and make precise adjustments to keep the material workable. Small changes in timing, pressure, and movement can influence the final thickness, contour, and surface, making every stage of the process an exercise in control.
Naturally one-of-a-kind
Subtle variations are inherent to artisan blown glass. Differences in contour, thickness, and surface develop as each piece is shaped by hand, giving individual components their own character. Once illuminated, these details affect the way light passes through the glass, producing variations in reflection, shadow, and glow across the fixture.
Sculptural light with lasting impact
Blown glass brings an organic dimension to architectural lighting, introducing form and texture that can be appreciated from across a room or at close range. As the surrounding light and viewing angle change, different details emerge across the glass. From statement chandeliers to pendants and sconces, these handcrafted forms create focal points that continue to reveal themselves long after the first impression.
