Jewels of Glass

MacNeil on Glass, Part 2 - Originating Form by Linda MacNeil

Linda creates each and every form - from the collar or the links to the distinctive jewels themselves. Some of the processes she uses are evident in her award winning Primavera necklace…. casting with rubber molds for both the gold links and the setting for the diamond detail as well as for creating the glass jewels.

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MacNeil on Glass, Part 1 - Vintage and Modern by Linda MacNeil

Q: What types of glass do you use the most?

MACNEIL: PLATE GLASS. Plate glass is the type of medium I use the most because as an artist I like to be in control of both form and color and because the forms I make are precise. I use both vintage and contemporary plate glass. Today’s industrial plate glass has great clarity and comes in reliable measurements and vintage plate glass comes in different thicknesses and in unusual, opaque colors, both are great for use in my designs. I use them in combination with each other as well as independently.

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MacNeil on Glass, Part 4 - Color and Why Red Costs More by Linda MacNeil

Q: Where does glass get its color from and why is red glass more expensive than any other color?

MACNEIL: It’s perhaps not very well known that colored glass is achieved by using oxidized metals to create the color within the glass. Historically many different elements were experimented with, but over time only the ones created with metals maintained their color intensity in all situations including direct sunlight. A prime example where the capacity to hold color is critical are the stained glass windows in churches, mosques, synagogues and cathedrals. They were positioned to get the most light possible throughout the day and the richness of the color was vital to their aesthetic.

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