Blown Glassware
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The History of Hand Blown Glass

The very first glass made in North America was in Mexico in 1535 by artisans brought by the Spanish from Europe. Although these original glassworks were short lived, glass blowing was reintroduced into Mexico hundreds of years ago and flourished, due largely to the simplicity of the ingredients and the ingenuity of the Mexican Arts and Crafts
Tradition.

Today Mexico is very well known for hand blown drinking glasses, the most popular of them characterized by a blue band at the rim.

Watching the artisans at their craft is mesmerizing, the technique is truly fascinating.

Mexico is the land of the master craftsman, and among this group is the glass blower.
The first primitive blower was produced in Puebla around 1535 to 1542. For hundreds of years, with nothing more than a blob of molten glass, a long hollow pipe, and some old tools, these artisans have produced glass items in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Originally, the glass was called "bubbles" because of all the bubbles produced when methods were not as uniform as today. Now days glass blowers that can blow large bubbles inside the glassware are considered to be "Master Blowers"

High-tech factory production methods (China) have tried to imitate the techniques of our native blowers; but none have captured the substance, individuality of shape, and the elegance of handmade glass.


Questions?
Feel free to Contact us toll free at
1-888-333-5401.
Open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm Mountain Time.
Or e-mail us, we answer emails 7 days a week.

How do you know if your glass is really hand blown:

Authentic glassware contains a pontil, or a place on the bottom of the glass that indicates that the piece is mouth blown. The glass blower cuts the hot glass at that point when he is finished with the piece.

Please Note:
Each Piece of our Mexican Glassware collection has been hand blown by one of the many talented artists in Southern Mexico. No two drinking glasses will ever be identical, which is part of the elegance and uniqueness of the traditional Mexican hand blown glass.

At Magellan Trading we offer only authentic, handmade and one-of-a-kind imported functional and decorative art.
Visit our unique Furniture Gallery from Asia, Mexico, and the Southwest. We now sell Jiaogulan Herbal Tea. Our items really are treasures -- they are unique and no two are alike. Come see our Treasures.