Glass From Islam

In the Islamic world of art, glass is a skillful craft that often achieved excellence yet seemed to be pretty much overlooked by most art historians. There were literally thousands of glassmakers, stretching from Cairo to Delhi, who were very proud and were more than happy to pass down their skill and knowledge from one generation to the following. London Glaziers are the experts in glass. They also experimented with the colours, shapes, techniques, and the surface of this wonderfully versatile material. There are still outstanding results, held in public and private collections all over the world. This is a testament to the skill and the legacy of these artists. After the death of the Roman Empire, the political turbulance in the western Roman Empire had a real adverse affect on the regional economic stability, that contributed to a decline in the making of glass. The Byzantine Empire in the eastern Mediterranean, however continued to make their glass.With the rise of Islam, and the expansion of Muslim territories throughout the 7th century A.D., created the society that kept alive many of the successes that were lost in the west. Glass with mosaic designs, cast and mold blown items continued to be made, and beginning in the ninth century, a new decorative approach to glass was taken. The initial advance began as they found that glass could be coloured with metallic stain. This was the first type of item that we now call lustre ware, as this process gave it a unique sheen. In other words, stained glass. During the 10th and 11th centuries, the cast and cut routines carried out on glass attained an even higher level of achievements. London Glazing can supply all glass types. The 12th to the 14th centuries, saw gilded and enameled vessels. With the opening of trade and political alliances, these new ways of ornamenting glass that was innovated in the Islamic world found their way to the west, and thus gave european glassmaking a renewed lease of life.

Toughened glass can be up to 4-5 times stronger than normal annealed glass of an equivalent thickness and is best suited to the most safety conscious applications.
But, if it is used at really high level, it must considered very carefully, as if the glass were to break, it will fragment into small pieces and will lose its support capability and of course will no longer create a barrier. Therefore, toughened glass which is not fully fitted inside a framework is more than likely to fall of its fitting. London Glazing are experts in all glass and glazing. The glass itself is constructed from a large number of laminated layers which also include polycarbonate. The laminated glass product has many uses and is the popular choice to increase security in many guises and is even available in a bullet-proof option. The laminated glass can be used as a large sheet of glass with a toughened glass to give safety and also piece of mind. Another type of safe glass is called security film.
This type of film glass is sold in a choice of thicknesses and is made for glass on windows and doors for increased security but when applied it should be behind any beading etc. for optimum performance. London Glaziers use qualified tradesmen and supply all glass. The film is designed to keep the glass together if someone attempts to smash it. It is a great addition to office windows that may experience collateral explosive damage, so no glass shards can blow back into the rooms, offices or fall to the ground. There is also a reduction in the glare that is nearly always present in buildings with lots of glass, so it will also reduce the affect of fading the furniture such as tables and chairs that may be in the direct path of such glare for example in a homes conservatory in summer. It can also be used to allow privacy and also reduce the heat that would be radiated through the glass which could save on running conditioning equipment for cooling.

Looking back to the 1950s, and the early style of the standard glass window production, there was no real variety, but today, there is a massive choice of glass types now being produced that can be applied to all domestic, commercial and industrial structures, both in and out. Sir Alastair Pilkington’s visionary production method of float glass has now been adapted to meet the requirements of modern buildings and also the serious environmental concerns in many ways. Hard to believe, but 90% of flat glass is still made by following the principles of float glass production as Mr Pilkington originally conceived. London Glazing are the glas experts. To learn about glass windows or glazing products that have that little bit more about them, here are some of the high tech glasses that are being produced today. Alarm Glass is as its name implies a security glass that is laminated, specifically using a wire of 0.1mm sandwiched between the glass sheets. The wire is not just an inert part of the glass, but forms part of an electrical circuit that will initiate an alarm if the glass is breached or broken in any way, and is an ideal addition to the security of a commercial or industrial premises. Anti Reflective Glass is not like the normal run of the mill float glass in that, it is subject to a dipping process, that provides it with a coating of metal oxide layers. The end product is that it is only able to reflect a small percentage of light, yet can still allow great clarity and transparency. London Glaziers are the glass people. This anti reflective glass is ideal for use in for example, a building with a wall of glass that keeps the visuals clear, but also increases the durability of the glass. Body Tinted Glass has a float glass melting process where chemical colourants are added to give a tint to the colour and increase absorption from the sun. It helps to reduce the solar radiation that comes into a building, and also keeps it cooler inside and gives a protection for furnishings so they dont fade. Body tint glass is great for those that want a unique looking building because it’s possible to have the glass made in many different shades.

Every home will lose some heat from their windows. However, energy efficient glass and glazing will keep a home much warmer and also reduce noise and a reduction of the energy bill. This means double glazing, or even secondary glazing. London Glazing can supply all types of glass. The normal double glazed window is usually made up of two panes of glass that are separated by an air gap. The air gap actually helps to maximize the heat retained in your house, whilst keeping the room temperatures a lot more comfortable. The struggle to keep a house warm during the cold weather will almost certainly result in an unwanted and rather large heating bill, and with the constantly raising of energy costs, any action we can take to keep our energy consumption down will prove a massive financial bonus. As well as keeping the cold out, this type of glazing provides really good noise insulation, great for people who live on a busy road or in a very built-up area.
Windows with single panes and doors are often far from durable whereas double panes of glass are much stronger and will typically come with integrated locking mechanisms to further enhance your home security. London Glaziers can fit windows. There are now many reputable double glazing firms, that cut out the middle man, and saving you the time comparing the quality of installations of different companies. Double glazing companies will usually have their own fitting teams or will contract the work out. Installing it yourself removes this element of doubt and removes the need to check what kind of insurance and guarantees your provider will offer in the event of an installation issue or structural damage. You will still want to ensure that the materials you purchase meet the required thermal performance standards and have a decent energy rating.

That our very own glass is 100% recyclable and has the capability to be recycled again and again with loss in its quality or purity. This is something that no other food or drink package can do. Also, glass is made from abundantly available domestic materials, like sand, soda ash, limestone and “cullet,” which is the industry name for scrap glass. The only material that is used in larger than this cullet is actually sand. These materials are “batched,” or mixed and heated to a temperature of 2600-2800°Fahrenheit and then formed into the required shape. Glass makers benefit from recycling in lots of ways, recycled glass lowers emissions and the relentless consumption of raw materials, extending the life of plant equipment, like furnaces. London Glazing advise on recycling glass. Recycled glass containers are always needed because glass manufacturers require high-quality recycled container glass to meet market demands for new glass containers. More than 67% of all glass bottles and jars in europe go for recycling. This equates to 25 billion jars and bottles or 11 million tons being collected. The EU’s waste experts, after prevention and reuse, think that recycling is the best environmental option over energy recovery and landfill. London Glaziers are professionals with glass. Glass is derived from natural materials like sand, soda ash and limestone. Glass is not made from scarce resources like crude oil, so it helps to stop the exploitation of fossil fuels. Glass production needs energy to melt the raw materials and also the recycled glass but this is not from fossil fuels. With glass there is no need for any of it to be put into a landfill site or be incinerated because of its recyclability. This advantage gives glass the real chance to literally be a zero waste packaging material. Container Glass under EU law [1] is said to be inert and this means it is without risk of contaminating the environment. Also glass will not be found polluting the sea.

Everyday glass cutting is normally done by scoring and breaking. The scoring is done by using a glass cutter. This is usually an inexpensive tool depending on its design. London Glazing supply all glass. Lay the glass on a flat surface. To achieve the best results put some oil on to the area to be cut. Some glass cutters can carry oil in the handle which flows it as it cuts. This will improve the quality of the scoring. The process of scratching or scoring is done on purpose, because it interrupts the tension and makes the glass easier to cut (weakens it). This is a ‘score line’ in the trade. It is better to start with the best quality cutter that you can afford. This will ensure that your glass is cut correct at the first attempt. If you have the opportunity, look at and try a selection of varoious cutters before you choose. London Glaziers tradesmen can measure and cut all types of glass. There are many types of cutter, here are a couple available and how they work. The Pencil Grip Cutter is a straight shaft and very comfortable to hold with oil inside. It can be pushed or pulled. Both ways are is ok as long as the wheel can be seen. As the name suggests it is held just the same as a pencil, but it can be held like a dagger when it is pulled. Use a constant pressure to score so the wheel rolls off the edge of the glass. You will hear and feel a rather pleasant scoring sound as the wheel rolls. The Strip-and-Circle cutter is very good, especially if you want to make a glass box or a lampshade. The way it works is in the name, you use the strip and circle cutter to cut straight strips of glass and circles. You can adjust the tool to cut almost any size of glass strips from half an inch right up to 8-10 inches. it easily transforms inot a circle cutter.

‘Depression’ glass was really popular and cheap when it was made. The american dime stores, where the cost conscious person could find all sorts from toiletries to household goods, was a the normal place to find this inexpensive product. At a time in the american way of life when a loaf of bread was relatively inexpensive, the careful shoppers could also treat themselves to a piece of Depression glass for a similar price. It was pressed by a machine that churned it out in very large amounts. It was first sold in the USA and Canada during the great depression hence the name, and was sometimes given away. London Glaziers can supply all glass. For the collector, the green is the favourite with amber pink and yellow following behind. Despite popular opinion, depression glass was first produced in the middle of the1920s and carried on well into the 1950s. This type of glass is split into into two different types which are, ‘depression’ glass and ‘elegant’ glass. The two types of glass are different in that Elegant glass had hand-finishing work done to it after it was taken from the mold. This included removing mold marks, grinding the bottom to flatten, and etching or engraving. Elegant glass was manufactured by less number of companies as the hand finishing reduced profits. Depression glass is further split into ‘known patterns’ and ‘generic glass.’ The known patterns have been well documented. The Generic glass was made in the depression glass time of history. London Glazing know coloured glass. There are very popular colours of depression glassware like the amber, blue, green, pink, and yellow. The company also produced pieces of this glass in amethyst, black, colbalt, crystal, cremax, custard, delphite, iridescent, frosted and dark green, ivory, and jadeite. There are 92 different patterns for this type of glass and they have all been documented and listed to help the collector of depreesion glass, this includes Adam, American Sweetheart, Block Optic,Cherry Blossom, Dogwood, Floral, Georgian, Hobnail, Lake Como, Manhattan, Starlight, and Windsor.

To make laminated safety glass the maker places a thin layer of flexible clear plastic film known as polyvinyl butyral (PVB) in between two or more sheets of glass. The plastic film grips the glass so when the glass breaks, it minimizes injury from flying glass shards. This film also stretches, but the glass still sticks to it. It is very difficult to pierce laminated safety glass, unlike a normal window pane. London Glazing can advise on safety glass.This sandwich arrangement provides some give. This safety glass also helps to keep the occupants in a vehicle. But who invented safety glass? The glass itself has been around and used since early in the 20th century being an alternative to regular glass in places where heat would create problems with normal glass or dangerous if the glass was to break. It has uses in automobile windows, windows in public buildings, glass cookware, oven doors and safety glasses. The product known as safety or laminated glass was discovered by accident. This accident happened to Edouard Benedictus, a French scientist in 1903. He dropped a glass flask whilst at work in his laboratory. London Glaziers are glass experts.
This particular flask happened to contain something called cellulose nitrate, which is a type of liquid plastic, and actually allowed the flask to more or less maintain its original shape when it hit the floor. During the early 1900s an Austrian chemist called Rudolf Seiden, developed tempered glass. In the year 1905 a Mr John Crew invented a type of safety glass which used tree resin sandwiched between two layers of glass. In 1909, six years after the dropped flask Edouard Benedictus patented ‘Triplex Glass’. This new variant of safety glass was made strong using a layer of polyvinyl butyral between two layers of glass. This type of safety glass had its first real practical use during World War I as the lens for a gas mask. Once the performance of the new glass was proven under the extreme conditions of battle, it began its use in car windscreens. During the1960s the regulations for safety glass were developed which really motivated and formed the development of the safety glass industry.

The glass we know is a mixture of sand and other minerals which when melted together at a high temperature makes a material that is perfect for a wide range of uses from packaging, construction and fibre optical equipment. There is form of glass that naturally occurs inside the mouth of volcanoes as the searing heat of an eruption melts the sand to form something called obsidian, which is a hard black glassy stone. Early humans made spear tips from this. Modern man has conquered glass making and can make many different types of glass in infinite and varied colours and a huge product range. The largest element for glass making is sand. This melts at about 1700°C with which other minerals are added to reduce the temperature for the melting process. London Glaziers recycle glass responsibly. Commercial glass is usually colourless to allow the transmission of light, which is great for the window and other uses also. Other chemicals for colour can be added. Flat glass has a very similar construction but has more magnesium oxide in its composition. The glass we use today is 100% recyclable and can be recycled time after time without losing any of its quality or strength. Archaeologists found evidence that man made glass and was dated right back to 4,000BC. This looked like coated stone beads. It has been discovered that the egyptians in 1,500 BC made the first glass bottles in a format we would recognise even today. Whilst the glass is still molten, it can be manipulated to make packaging, car windscreens, glazing and various other products. The end use dictates, the composition of the glass and the rate at which it is allowed to cool. London Glazing supply and fit all types of glass.
Did you know that glass is inert. This is a great thing as it guarantees your food will never have a glass taste. The glass we use is actually the only packaging material that has no requirement for extra layers to protect your food from tasting as it should. If you like good food, the choice is clear as … well, glass.

Many people have made use of something known as a mirror. They have studied their own reflections, used them for a decoration and used them for science instrumentation and for entertainment including magic acts. London Glazing can cut all types of glass.The mirror is very common today, and are made from a stock formula. The mirrors of the olden days were made from thing like steel, copper, silver and even gold. These early mirror came about around in Germany around 200 years ago. A German chemist called Justus von, created a process for the application of a thin layer of metallic silver on one side of a pane of clear flat glass. This process was soon refined, and the first mirror became a product of the masses. London Glaziers are glass experts. The more modern mirrors that we use now could have been produced in the 19th century, but they have actually been around for a loger time. According to a review in 2006 by a vision scientist called Dr. Jay Enoch that featured in the journal Optometry and Vision Science, the earliest mirrors were made by the people of Turkey from ground and polished obsidian (volcanic glass) around 8,000 years ago. The mirror has been discovered in the old Iraq and Egypt that were polished copper and dated 3000-4000 B.C. Lots of cultures wold have probably created reflective mirrors at various times in history, but perhaps mother nature should be hailed as the true pioneer of the looking glass. The actual first ever mirrors must have been still water pools and rock or clay containers of liquids. Not everyone in the world has paid homage to the rise of the mirror. During the 1970s an anthropologist took mirrors to an isolated tribe in Papua New Guinea, the tribe were horrified by their reflections he reported.