Sandblasting

Origin: 1886

Some of ARTĚL’s most interesting motifs are created using a technique known as sandblasting, a multi-step process developed in 1886 in which glass is ground by hand to produce a matte finish. In the first step of this process, a stencil-like “mask” must be applied by hand to each piece. A special gun is then used to apply a pressurized spray of grinding sand to the unmasked areas. This requires great skill on the part of the artisan, who must control the texture and depth of the design by varying the volume and duration of each sandblast.

Sandblasting not only produces striking visual contrasts between the clear and matte-finished crystal in any given piece, but also creates a wonderful texture that is very satisfying to the touch.