Sandblasting glass

Electric and internal lighting is not possible without glass: whichever lighting product we see, like bulbs or tubes, features a transparent, thin glass. Even in the old days of lanterns, they were covered in glass. Today, the lightings have converted to the modern and luxurious forms of chandeliers, candelabra, decorative domes, etc.

Lighting glass accessories are beautifully handcrafted in a variety of colours and often employ glass sandblasting for obtaining light effects otherwise impossible. Many luxurious restaurants use a candelabrum at dinner tables which creates a romantic atmosphere. The sandblasting of glass can be used also for achieving dramatic lighting in domes and wall sconces, glass columns and other fixtures.

To sandblast a glass mean basically to propel very fine bits of sand-like material at a high speed to clean or etch its surface. The Sandblasted glass can be used to obtain fascinating ambient effects of opaque light, diffusing a soft atmosphere that usually helps relaxation.

As an art technique, it can be used in glass etching, where an abrasive is blasted at the glass lightly to turn the glass semi-opaque: it is thus carved in selected areas through the use of a stencil with differing depths and angles of cuts, creating an array of lighting effects that may be quite beautiful.