Page 25 - 2022 Glass Editorial

Trailing Glass

he elegant lines created by trailing Trailing Over Time
in the early ages added a typically Glassmakers in Mesopotamia were once again the
Tserpentined trail of glass to a vessel, innovators, developing the core-forming technique, in
adding a touch of elegance and perhaps which hot glass is trailed around a core in the shape of
something for the user to hang onto rather the desired vessel. The use of trailed decoration on
than an ultra-smooth surface. Its popularity is glass vessels extends back to the earliest use of the
alive and well today, with modern examples core-forming technique. At this stage in history, glass-
popping up in home décor and interior makers would apply threads of yellow and white glass
design shops across the country. in some pattern to the bodies of core-formed vessels.
The trails would typically then be pressed into the
What is Trailing? surface of the piece by marvering.
How is it done? When core-formed glass fell out of favor and
Trailing is the process of applying hot blown glass was in favor, trailed decoration was
“trails of glass” onto the body of a vessel for overlooked as molded relief and cut decoration
decoration. The trailing technique is also gained popularity.
used to place a handle or to create a foot on a Fast forward to the 2nd century A.D., and
piece of glass. It is done by laying or winding trailed decoration again rose to the top of preferred
softened threads (hot, liquid glass) as it is decorative methods. “Snake” threading, or using
rolled onto a glass object as it is being made. that serpentine design, was typically scored with
Keulenglas “club glass,” A very thin trail is called a “thread” and lines to distinguish the trail from the vessel. Moving
a variety of Stangenglas, thick trails are “coils.” Trails can be a into the 4th and 5th centuries, trailing turned from
decorated with milled contrasting color or the same color as the being a part of a glass form to an augmentation to a
trailing wound spirally object depending upon the available colors of glass form. Pieces had more trailed handles than
around the slightly a particular period of time. people had fingers to hold them. Glass workshops
club shaped beaker on a in the eastern Mediterranean kept the trend going
pedestal foot with an Decorative Uses for Threads and well into the 6th century.
upward kick, Trailing became more of a useful method applied The is an Ancient
circa 17th century Coils Roman glass
Germany Another decorative method used by when the glassblower deemed it an element of decora- alabastron (perfume
trailing is called “feathering” or “combing tion that enhanced the piece. Communication holder) featuring
color.” As the names imply, this is a method that can became stronger and similarities began white trailing
dating to the
involve many different colored threads applied to the glass to appear between the eastern and west- 1st century A.D.
body by marvering (a marver is the tool used to apply the ern civilizations. Glassware became
threads) and then “combing” (dragging) them to form a something for the everyman, not just the rich and higher
pattern creating a feathered effect. levels of society. Molds were used to impress a design into a
There are other ways to use trailing on glass, such as using glass instead of just on top of it.
a marver in a way that will create delicate ribbing on a glass Another era of interest for glass trailing was the Victorian
surface or adding large dots of colored glass in a freeform period. The trailing designs that were extremely popular
style. Even creating lines in zigzag or waves. Applying included “peacock eyes” or “Cairngorm.” This design
varying thickness of threads and coils blend to make was greatly produced in England’s glass mecca, the
colorful patterns. town of Stourbridge. Makers included Stuart & Sons,
Chain trailing is a pattern of applied decoration Thomas Webb, and Richardson. Harrach out of
where intersecting threads are laid on the body of the Bohemia was also a noted maker of this design.
vessel to look like links of a chain (sometimes called By combining any number of methods to
“spectacle” decoration). Glassmakers have used this enhance the appearance of glass, trailing became an
style of decoration since Roman times. It seems to have integral part of glassmaking from start to finish.
been most popular in Middle Eastern manufacturing areas
during the late Roman and Byzantine periods. Collecting Trailed Glass
The process of applying trails of glass is the same technique Mid-20th Century Blenko You can find trailed glass
used to place a coil to form into a handle, or using the marver crackle glass carafe with just about everywhere today,
to add a glob of glass to the base of the object to make it a blue trailing. but it is best to take note of
“footed” piece. Artisans would typically create these in the pieces that come from
same color as the main item but would occasionally use coordinating dealers and auction houses that specialize
colors that may have been used for other trailing effects in the piece. in glass from a variety of eras – especially
since trailing was popular one year and
then practically disappeared for gaps of
A selection of ribbed, trailed bowls on display at the Eretz Museum in Tel Aviv.
hundreds of years.
Be careful when handling the pieces
as fragile pieces may have trails that have
broken, leaving a sharp edge. On the flip
side of that, keep an eye out for “too
good to be true” pieces, because they
probably are. Glass collectors have a
wonderful ability to look for the right
kind of “errors” that are inherently part Antique Victorian cranberry
of the glassmaking process. glass threaded bud vase,
just 3 ¾” tall, circa 1890

April 2022 23