GB2252972A - Method of making iridescent glass - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of making iridescent glass in which coloured particles are applied to a molten glass mixture, this mixture is re-heated to fuse the coloured particles into the glass and the fused mixture worked to spread the colour. The molten glass is then rendered iridescent for use in ornamental materials by using a spray of a titanium derivative.

Description

Method of Makina Iridescent Glass This invention relates to a method of making iridescent glass for use in insertion in ornamental materials.

More specifically the invention relates to a method of making iridescent glass for insertion in precious metals for jewellery. Until now there has been no suitable method of making glass in which each piece of glass produced has individual, unique colour characteristics.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of making iridescent glass comprising melting a glass mixture extracting a quantity of molten glass and forming it into a compact mass, applying coloured particles to the mass, re-heating the mass to fuse said particles into the glass, working said fused mixture to spread the colour, and rendering said worked mixture iridescent before preparation for use in ornamental materials.

Preferably, the coloured particles are multicoloured glass crystals containing various oxides to generate the colour, and/or frits being of partly fused vitreous substance having colour; Preferably, the worked mixture is rendered iridescent by using a spray of titanium derivative; Preferably, the iridescent glass is set into precious metal mounts; Preferably, the glass used is Chene d' Glass comprising sand, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium nitrate, lead monosilicate, calcium carbonate and antimony trioxide or traditional hot enamel glass; and, Preferably, the method of working the fused mixture is by using a hand tool.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following: Example The example pertains to a method of making iridescent glass for use in insertion in precious metal jewellery.

The method comprises mixing the following components: sand, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium nitrate, lead monosilicate, calcium carbonate and antimony trioxide; and melting them in a furnace to make molten glass.

When molten, the glass is gathered from the furnace by dipping in the end of a Blowing/Gathering Iron and twisting. On withdrawal of the Iron from the furnace the 'blob' of molten glass is rolled on a steel surface to even out the bubbles and forming a compact mass for colour-building.

The glass at this stage is about 1500"C and absolutely clear. After continued re-heating to keep it in its molten state, the glass is rolled in a tray of multicoloured glass crystals and/or frits, said crystals being mainly of the same chemical make-up as that of said molten glass but additionally containing oxides.

The molten glass and coloured crystals on the end of the Iron are now worked by a handtool stretching the colours into threads spread throughout the glass. The glass is continually re-heated and rotated in the furnace keeping it in its molten state.

In the finished piece this movement and flow of the liquid glass over the surface can be easily seen as it is this process which gives each piece of glass individual characteristics.

The molten glass is now rendered iridescent using a spray of titanium derivative and thereafter placed beneath a Fly-Press, causing the glass;to be flattened into a slab which is broken off and placed into an Annealing Kiln (Lehr) for a period of controlled cooling.

The glass is then cored and sliced producing individual pieces of glass to be set into silver and gold jewellery mounts.

The advantage of this method is that it produces unique pieces of iridescent glass with individual colour characteristics that can then be set in precious metal outlines to create jewellery of a striking appearance.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

1 A method of making iridescent glass comprising melting a glass mixture, extracting a quantity of molten glass and forming it into a compact mass, applying coloured particles to the mass, re-heating the mass to fuse said particles into the glass, working said fused mixture to spread the colour, and rendering said worked mixture iridescent before preparation for use in ornamental materials.

2 A method of making iridescent glass as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the coloured particles are multicoloured glass crystals containing various oxides to generate the colour, and/or frits being of partly fused vitreous substance having colour.

3 A method of making iridescent glass as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, wherein the worked mixture is rendered iridescent by using a spray of titanium derivative.

4 A method of making iridescent glass as claimed in Claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the iridescent glass is set into precious metal mounts.

5 A method of making iridescent glass as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the glass used in Chene d' Glass comprising sand, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium nitrate, lead monosilicate, calcium carbonate and antimony trioxide or traditional hot enamel glass.

6 A method of making iridescent glass as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method of working the fused mixture is by using a hand tool.

7 A method of making iridescent glass substantially as herein described in the Example.