Mexican Bubble Glass

The first primitive glassware was produced by craftsmen in Puebla around 1542. Techniques for producing glassware were brought over to Mexico by the Spanish and taken up by the local Mexicans.

Using nothing more than a glob of molten glass, a blow pipe, and a few tools, a master craftsman produces fabulous pitchers, bowls, vases, and glasses using techniques very similar to those craftsmen 500 years ago.

Today, Mexican glassware is renowned for its beauty.

Mexican glass is sometimes called bubble glass due to the small bubbles which are blown into the glass by Master Craftsmen. These bubbles were in the glass originally due to imprecisions in blowing and impurities in the glass. Today, however, skilled glass blowers place these bubbles.

While techniques and glass have improved over the centuries, Mexican Master craftsmen today will purposefully add these pubbles to the glassware, making for a one of a kind pieces of art.

Mexican glassware is made using lead-free, untempered, recycled glass.

Authentic Mexican glassware will contain a pontil, a mark at the bottom of the glass, that indicates it has been mouth blown. The glass blower cuts the hot glass when he finishes a piece.

1. Bubble Glass
Small bubbles run through the entire glass or pitcher. The glass itself can be any colour at all.

2. Swirled glass
The glass has a clouded effect which swirls around. Popular colours include turquoise and orange.

3. Spirals
The spirals swirl around the edge of the glass giving it an elegant and sophisticated look.

4. Granite
The finished piece looks like smoky black marble.