In the centre of the island of Malta, in what was an abandoned WWII RAF airfield, is a Ta’ Qali Handicrafts Village. Our tour stopped here to observe glass-blowing and shop at another local filigree shop.
This is the glass workshop, it is much more rugged than the filigree workshop which could be a corner of the dining room table at home.
Look at the beautiful filigree work in the showcase below. I bought a charming (pun intended) squirrel pendant and necklace to give as a Christmas present.
You might have to watch the video below more than once to see everything that is happening. First, focus on the man that starts in the top centre as he prepares his rod to gather some white hot molten glass from the furnace and bring it to his work station on the left. Next, watch how the man in the centre with his back to you moulds the glass on the end of the rod. Finally, watch another man prepare his rod near the top centre and bring it to the man forming the bowl and they transfer the bowl to the furnace on the right.
What happened to that man on the left with the white hot ball of molten glass? Here is your answer.
Doug, wow! Glass blowing on an island that is hot anyway! Fascinating. I worry about the safety of the workers. And I hope they have AC. But even Beard Guy seems relaxed and unconcerned. I hope you shared, or will share, additional images of the finished products. Glass making is mysterious to me, even though I have seen videos of Chilhuly’s people, and others. Thanks for the tour!
Sorry I didn’t take pictures of the finished products and I wished I had more pictures of the filigree items but most of them were so small.