Isadora 5" scooped square
dichroic glass with a black soda lime glass background
Now Available at Artisans at Rocky Hill
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I often use dichroic glass as a design element most commonly in jewelry but also from time to time in functional glass items. When recently dropping off the series of pieces above at Artisans in Fredericksburg, I chatted with several people about dichroic glass and why so many people find it so very attractive. I thought it might also be nice to share a little of that information with you here.
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What exactly is dichroic glass? It's glass, typically clear or black, which has a thin film of quartz crystal and metal oxides (e.g. copper, silver, titanium, etc.) on its’ surface. To create this product metal oxides are heated in a vacuum chamber using a high voltage electron beam until they are vaporized and deposited on the surface of the glass. The glass may be coated multiple times (e.g. 15-45). The thickness, not more than 35 millionth of an inch, contributes to the beautiful colors we see. The coatings act as an optical filter which manipulates light. The brilliant colors we see are generated when light is reflected and refracted from it. Shifting a piece even slightly changes the color you see. The name dichroic comes from the root words di for two and chroma meaning color, literally two-color.
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This iridescent quality is very difficult to fully capture in a photograph. To fully appreciate its’ luminescent qualities you really have to see it in person. So if you in the Texas Hill Country be sure to stop by Artisans at Rocky Hill on Fredericksburg's Main Street and ask Anne to show first hand you what I'm talking about. Or if you prefer to get some first had exprence in making your own fused glass jewlrey using dichroic glass you can sign up for a Fusing I workshop at Wire Designs Studio in San Antonio.
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