Industrial vs. Craft Glass / Understanding the Differences
Glass has long been a core material in both utility and art—but how it's made tells two very different stories. At Utopia & Utility, we believe that knowing the difference between industrial and handcrafted glass helps us appreciate the beauty and integrity behind each object.
How Can You Tell the Difference Between Handmade and Industrial Glass?
Many visual and tactile markers can help you distinguish between a handmade piece of glass and an industrially produced one.
Above is an example of an art glass piece, freehand blown and shaped. You can see its fluidity and weight—there are no sharp angles. Look at the shadow: you’ll notice waves of darkness, revealing variations in glass density. This is one of the most immediate giveaways of a handmade piece.
This glass shows:
Differences in wall thickness
Tiny air bubbles
Fine lines from the movement of molten glass
All of which are unique signs of traditional glassblowing.
What Is a Punty (Pontil) Mark in Glass?
Here, you see a punty—a mark where the glassmaker’s iron rod was attached to the piece using hot glass as a kind of glue. This punty mark is a sure sign of handmade glass, and we leave them on wherever we can as a signature of the process.
The punty allows the artisan to open, form, and finish the shape from the opposite end. It’s an essential part of freehand glassblowing, where control and improvisation coexist.
Identifying Color and Density in Handcrafted Glass
This piece of glass is also handmade, and you can see it in the nuances of color—both in the body and in the shadows it casts. There’s a visible difference in density from top to bottom, and some bubbles (nearly unavoidable in larger pieces) give further evidence of the organic process.
Mould-Blown Glass: A Hybrid Craft Technique
The example above is blown into a wooden mould—a time-honoured way of handmaking glass with a consistent shape. Here’s how it works:
Hot glass is gathered on an iron.
It’s dropped into a wooden mould.
The maker blows the glass until it fills the shape and cools slightly.
Once cool enough, the blowing iron is knocked off. What remains must be cut and polished in the coldworking process.
Coldworking and Polishing
The image above shows a mould-blown piece that’s been cooled for 12–24 hours. The bulbous shape you see at the base was formed inside the mould. The section above it is called the kopny, which is cracked off using flame and cold water.
After this, the edge is sharp and must be sanded and polished—a labor-intensive process involving:
Running water
Several grits of sanding tools
Polishing pastes
Once the top and bottom are polished, the piece is finished. These flat surfaces often reveal much about its origin: look for sharp, clean edges and traceable cut marks—hallmarks of hand-finishing.
Coldworking and Polishing
The image above shows a mould-blown piece that’s been cooled for 12–24 hours. The bulbous shape you see at the base was formed inside the mould. The section above it is called the kopny, which is cracked off using flame and cold water.
After this, the edge is sharp and must be sanded and polished—a labor-intensive process involving:
Running water
Several grits of sanding tools
Polishing pastes
Once the top and bottom are polished, the piece is finished. These flat surfaces often reveal much about its origin: look for sharp, clean edges and traceable cut marks—hallmarks of hand-finishing.
Why It Matters
Training your eye to distinguish quality in glass is worthwhile. Each hand-crafted piece carries the spirit of the maker—the story of heat, motion, precision, and time. When you can trace the bubbles, the density, the punty mark, you can imagine its story of creation.
Choosing handmade glass is a way to support craftsmanship, sustainable production, and beauty that can't be replicated by a machine.
Want to Own a Piece of Handcrafted Glass?
At Utopia & Utility, our collections combine function and fantasy, made by artisans who honour centuries-old techniques.