Glass Door Knobs

If you have looked at antique glass door knobs, you have probably marveled at the intricate cut designs that were present and how they caught light to turn an ordinary piece of glass into a work of art. So what is happening today? In a world that demands speed of production, are we losing this ability to transform ordinary objects into art?

In some areas we have lost the ancient arts but some innovative people are bringing art and technology to a new heights to produce marvelous home decor objects that are true work of arts.

With a click on a remote control a piece of glass can be transformed, with the help of electricity… It is a new technology applied to glass. Glass is a material that man has used for thousand of years and that is coming back in a high tech version.

Today we can change the structure of glass and make it go from transparent to opaque, to translucent, by using new heating techniques.

When we use glass, first we enhance our decor because glass is beautiful, but if we light it, we quickly realize that it takes a new value, a new life. It is a whole new product.

There is in Brehat France a group of artists who produce curtain rod finials and glass door knobs of amazing beauty. Today their creative endeavor is becoming known all over the world as they take the time to rethink the decorative attributes and functions of glass. They have created their own style, using proven techniques borrowed from many countries and many periods in history. The result is glass doors knobs that are the admiration of all, for their choice of colors,and their use of decorative design elements. They have three shapes spherical, oval and a flatter disk, and each produces a different effect.

To produce glass door knobs of incredible beauty they use blown glass or glass that is heat formed. Production started in 1998 and today they are selling all over the world, however their specialty is to be able to produce custom glass doors knobs and finials for individuals, designers, hotels and fine furniture manufacturers. Prices as you can imagine are high for these useful objects that have become art pieces. For now I  just enjoy looking at them, and I wanted to share them with hubpages visitors. 

American artists produce beautiful glass door knobs using ancient techniques used by the Murano glass makers. One such artist is Tracy Glover who makes some of the most amazing door knobs and cabinet door knobs. They usually sell for around $40 each for cabinets.

Murano glass is also known as lampwork glass and is seeing a revival in the United States. You might want to look at my hub on glass beads that are made using this technique.

Another supplier of blown glass door knobs is Out Of The Blue Design Studio, where 16 artists have come together to produce modern and fun looking door knobs, including one that replicates the earth.