An Insight Into Glass

David Iams, docent at the WheatonArts glass museum and former docent at the Wheaton Arts Folklife Center, gave a brief but detailed insight into the history and development of glass in South Jersey.

Q When did glassmaking begin?

David Iams It was invented, or more likely stumbled upon in 2000 B.C. Initially it was likely puddled. Around 50 B.C.  the blow pipe was invented, which allowed for glass to become a commercial product. The techniques used in the Roman Empire are still in use in glassblowing studios today. The beaker (see image below), for instance, is hexagonal. It was blown into a mold. The handle on the top was probably patched onto it when it was still viscous.

Q What are some details of the glassmaking process?

Iams Glass is something that melts at about 2000 degrees. You can alter its state by adding other ingredients to make it melt at a higher or slightly lower temperature. Glass is basically made of silica sand, the kind you get on the beach, combined with limestone and potash. Those are two alkaline products, mixed with silica sand, which is basically an acid. Glassmaking was popular in New Jersey because a lot of the ingredients were available. [The availability of] sand and also wood, which when burned produces potash. Water was a way of transporting glass. Port Elizabeth was a major port on the eastern seaboard back in the 18^th century.

Q What are the techniques of glassblowing?

Iams Most vessels made in the history of glass were containers. [For window glass, frequently made in New Jersey], one way is to take a gob of molten glass from a furnace, blow it out and spin it. As you spin it, centrifugal force flattens it out into a disc. Take it and cut it into panes. Make them rectangular except for the one in the middle. [You emboss the one in the middle] to make Bullseye glass. That kind of glass is still used in some parts of Cumberland County, such as Greenwich, where there are a lot of historic buildings. It was ppular to use that glass to make a little framework of windows around a doorway.

Iams A glass [gets its green color] from the iron oxide in it. Add other ingredients to the basic mixture of glass and it’ll change color. It can be made almost completely clear by adding a mineral called manganese. That’ll [also] make it white, or if you add enough that’ll make it amethyst. Gold oxide gives glass a cranberry color.

Q What is the Folklife Center?

Iams It is a little museum that was started about 30 years ago. The building that houses it was part of the original Wheaton Village campus. It was developed under the auspices of New Jersey Council on the Arts. Initially, it was an exhibition of basic folklore and folk activities around [South Jersey]. For instance, there was the boatbuilding process of Dorchester, New Jersey. There was the Native American community here and their old folk crafts. The Jersey Devil, of course, is another famous piece of folklore. Recently it’s been getting away from exhibitions. The word “Folklife” is a term developed in the 1970’s or thereabout to define the body of traditional activity that governs day to day life in certain areas and traditions. Traditions are defined as beliefs and practices, that are passed down from one generation to another by word-of-mouth, not so much from formal training. So, if you learn how to make a pot from watching your aunt or uncle make a pot. The Folklife Center spent a lot of time focusing on the traditional arts and crafts around here. Boatbuilding, weaving, basket making, and similar activities. In more recent years, under its current director, the Folklife Center has more emphasized the ethnic traditions [of South Jersey]. There have exhibitions that have celebrated the [Mexican culture] here. A lot [of local Mexicans] come from Wahaca, in the South of Mexico, which has a very rich cultural tradition. We have also celebrated the Italians, who are very well assimilated, and the Indian-Americans, many of whom are professionals here. Most recently, there has been an exhibition of the culture of the Balkans. They have very colorful costumes. Like I said, the Folklife Center doesn’t do exhibitions so much anymore, and is changing its focus more on becoming an educational center. But that’s what got it started.