Blown glass is a decorative and functional piece of art that dates back to 50 B.C. When it was first created, blown glass art was known to be a luxury and only for the wealthy. Italians developed methods to add color and shape to  pieces of glass art. Artist's creating beautiful works of glass had begun to spread throughout Europe by the 18th century. Blown glass became somewhat industrialized and artist used their work for scientific, utilitarian, and artistic purposes. Blown glass is a craft known worldwide using a base of silica or sand, created from pulverized sandstone. It is then melted down and formed into a sculpture using air and various tools. The molten liquid is formed onto a hollow metal pipe to start the glass making process. Color is added by adding certain chemicals and dyes to the molten glass. The process takes place using a special oven reaching 2400 degrees Fahrenheit. The glass is settled and ready for the market as short as a 1 hour process, or as long as 3 days to perfect a piece of glass work.Whether its functional or decorative, colorful glass can bring a touch of personality to any room. Art glass can be versatile because as the seasons change, so can the color of glass. Spring is right around the corner and that means light blues, yellows, oranges, and greens are popular. Iittala has a wide range of decorative vases and glass sculptures to fit any room and décor.The Iittala Vigna Birds collection has many vibrant colored birds in different shapes and sizes, perfect to add to a mantle or hutch.

Other great places for your artwork is on kitchen counters. The Simon Pearce collection has elegant clear glass bowls, ranging from extra small to large. Each piece is blown glass and has a unique touch. Using clear glass and a colorful filler such as marbles or beads will add depth and beauty to your pieces of art. Large decorative bowls can also be used as a fruit bowl, a dish for floating candles, or for potpourri. Decorative vases can be used as a utensil holder, to display a flower bouquet, or for beautiful tropical fish. If you decide to decorate with blown glass art, you are investing in a piece of history with a fantastic quality and story behind each technique, color, and design.