In continuing our study of Tiffany Glass and the various techniques that Mr. Tiffany used in his creations of his famous Tiffany Lamps, let us look into other methods that he used.

In order to create the illusion of foliage a process known as Fracture Glass was used. It would create thin, irregular shaped, wafers of glass that was affixed to the surface of the glass. Large bubbles were made in the molten glass by forcefully blowing into a long blowpipe creating large thin bubbles that stretched the glass. The bubbles would cool, harden and then quickly be smashed and broken into small pieces of shard. These small, irregular pieces of glass would then be pressed into the glass during the rolling process and become permanently fused.

In addition to this process, Mr. Tiffany would combine the process of Fracture Glass and Streamer Glass, as previously discussed in part 1, in order to create the combination of streamers and thin glass wafers. This would give the illusion of foliage, grass, and branches as seen from a distance. Both streamers and fracture glass was added to the glass during the rolling process and became a permanent part of the glass.

Ring mottle glass was a process created by Mr. Tiffany in the early 20th century. Ring mottle glass is characterized by irregular arrangements of patches of color. It is created by localized heat treated opacification and crystal growth patterns. Tiffany’s style exploited glass and all its characteristics in order to create and design without using paint or other elements in his designs. Ring mottle glass was used so extensively that he relied little on painted details.

Last, but not least, is Drapery Glass. This type of glass Mr., Tiffany used in creating his large ecclesiastical stained glass windows. He used this method numerous times to give the effect of flowing robes or angel wings. The process was done to hot molten glass by using a small diameter hand held roller that is manipulated forcefully over a sheet of glass to produce heavy ripples. At the same time as the ripples were created the entire sheet of glass was folded and creased. The making of drapery glass involved skill and experience. As the glass cools, the ripples harden and become a permanent part of the texture of the glass. Each time this process was used it created a unique piece of glass, never another like it.

As we can see from the study of the designs of glass that Tiffany used, from the opalescent glass, to Favrile, to streamer and fracture glass, ripple and ring mottle glass, each technique produced a certain look and feel that Mr. Tiffany was trying to create in his lamps, and stained glass windows. As varied as nature is in color, design and beauty Mr. Tiffany tried to recreate in glass. His attention to detail and precision in duplicating textures and colors laid the groundwork for the must stunning pieces of glass artwork ever manufactured.

When choosing a Tiffany Lamp be sure to take your time and analyze the fixture you are interested in and try to capture the feel and effect of the lamp. Mr. Tiffany and the "Tiffany Girls" were truly master artisans and created works of stained glass as brilliant as nature herself. Using and combining several different methods of working the glass made his creations come to life and will undoubtedly add character and beauty to your home.