A mould may appear in more than one glass-forming process. Tokyo’s Edo glass specification separates free blowing, mould blowing and pressing rather than defining handmade glass by a single outline.
Technique and structure
In free blowing, the worker gathers hot glass on a blowpipe, turns it in the air and shapes it with tools, reheating and forming repeatedly. Mould blowing adds a wooden or metal mould to that blowing process. Pressing uses a pair of male and female moulds: the glass is placed in the mould and pushed into shape by the male part. A mould’s involvement therefore does not, on its own, establish whether blowing or pressing formed a particular vessel.
Forming comes before interpreting decoration
This account concerns making the glass body. It answers a different question from the later cutting and polishing of a kiriko pattern. The finished shape alone is not a full process record.
For international readers
Ask the maker for the forming method, glass composition and model-specific handling instructions. No hot-drink, dishwasher or impact rating is inferred here.
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日本語
江戸硝子：宙吹き・型吹き・型押しの違い
東京都の江戸硝子資料は、吹き竿を回しながら整える宙吹き、木型・金型などを加える型吹き、雄雌の型で押す型押しを区別しています。型を使うという説明だけで型押しと決めず、器の生地を作る仕事と切子の装飾工程も分けて確認します。