In Spite of all the Danger; Glashütte Lamberts, Waldsassen

In Waldsassen, Germany we were taken on a private tour of the Lambert's Glass House. Lamberts specializes in mouth-blown glass, which is ideal for conservation of medieval glass, as it is closest to the original product used in Romanesque and medieval windows. We began our two-day tour in the evening. The glass making process begins at night, when the glass is formulated for the different colors to be made.  

One of the furnaces used to melt the ingredients for glass. It was hard to get any closer, 
because it was so freakin hot!

We also had a special demonstration of glass roundels being made, which is normally done during the day.
 A roundel is a small disc of glass, which  can come in a variety of sizes.

First a small globe of glass is picked up on the metal tube, and blown into a small balloon.

Then the balloon is opened at the end and 
spun out into a disc.

By looking through a blue pane of glass, you can see what is going on inside the furnace. All of the men working on making the glass had blue visors like these hung around their necks. They used long fiberglass sleeves to protect their arms from the extreme heat. According to the Germans, this kitchen is too hot for women to work in. Out of 82 employees, there are only two women.

A sample of glass is taken and pulled to the correct thickness for the Color Master to check that it matches the samples that have been distributed to artists around the world. (The stained glass design in the "new" Southwest terminal at BWI airport, was made with Lambert's glass.) 

A young glass blower. Working in the glass house is a family tradition going back many generations for some families in Waldsassen.

Finished tubes must be annealed (cooled slowly), 

so they go into an oven and come out slightly less hot at the other end.

Making larger clear glass sheets takes strength and skill. 

This job is at the top of the glass-house hierarchy.

The tubes will be sliced length-wise and flattened out in another oven, into rectangular sheets.

Most of the glass is made to order, but a huge stock is also kept on hand in the glass warehouse for immediate delivery. 

More Glass

Like giant ribbons of candy.

Trash glass ready for the tip.

At the end of the long work day, (4 am to 12 noon!) leftover glass is left to cool. Don't stand too close, as it is likely to erupt in small explosions from cooling too quickly. It did shortly after this photo was taken! Flying glass shards!

One of my top ten days ever!