Ngwenya Glass is a glass blowing factory in Swaziland that produces unique handmade glassware using 100% recycled glass. It was started in 1979 by a Swedish aid project but closed until being reopened in 1987. The factory employs 70 people including master glassblower Sibusiso Mhlanga and other original staff who underwent training in the 1970s. The glassblowing process is intricate, taking up to eight people and 11 steps to produce a single wine glass. The factory prioritizes quality over quantity in its uniquely handcrafted glassware made from recycled materials.
The only company worldwide that specializes in the production of high quality crystal clear ice sculptures. Also a manufacturer of proprietary equipment, special reusable molds and illuminated displays for the production and presentation of crystal clear ice sculptures.
The only company worldwide that specializes in the production of high quality crystal clear ice sculptures. Also a manufacturer of proprietary equipment, special reusable molds and illuminated displays for the production and presentation of crystal clear ice sculptures.
Iceberg Glass by NATHAN ALLAN invokes a fresh, watery, floating context of glass islands streaming aimlessly within an invisible boundary. Iceberg nuggets, with chiselled edges, are solidly formed then melted within a sea of clear glass formations.
The intricate production methods create panels of vivid glass features, where the Icebergs appear to move and float as if gently flowing with an ocean current. Iceberg Glass can be produced in small or large, 1.5” thick textured glass sheets, in Annealed or Safety Laminated versions.
This unique, textured glass, is the latest product launch for Nathan Allan, within 2016.
The complete guide_to_making_your_own_wineYewsat Lusat
A complete guide to making wine from citrus, flowers, Ribena, what utensil to use, fermentation process, sterilization, maturing, extraction tutorial, and many more.
The silver art has a millennial history. Since the man has worked the metals, the silver has a leading role, due to its beauty, the merits the therapeutic abilities, the intrinsic value and for the possibility to work it with imagination and creativity. Also endowed with high technology instruments, a modern firm cannot forget both the history of the things and of the man. To work the silver means to respect all this, to take care of it, as if the craftsmen and the industrialist they had the assignment to hand down values and traditions besides manufacturing beautiful objects and of value.
During our 14 years of operations, the company has gone through a vigorous process of metamorphosis, and the company has shaped itself to its present form. Now, we are proud of our stature the best in our trade, and will ever remain your most preferred choice for unique and quality Lifestyle Products.
Kevin Vollebregt & Vitaly Alekseyev: A great cocktail experience start with t...BAROMETER
Kevin Vollebregt - a new guy in town. He has been working as a marketeer in the restaurant industry for more than 7 years now. And for the last two years, he has been working as a global Brand Ambassador in the cocktail industry.
Vitaly Alekseyev - head bartender at the Duchess in Amsterdam (voted for a best new cocktail bar in 2015).
Iceberg Glass by NATHAN ALLAN invokes a fresh, watery, floating context of glass islands streaming aimlessly within an invisible boundary. Iceberg nuggets, with chiselled edges, are solidly formed then melted within a sea of clear glass formations.
The intricate production methods create panels of vivid glass features, where the Icebergs appear to move and float as if gently flowing with an ocean current. Iceberg Glass can be produced in small or large, 1.5” thick textured glass sheets, in Annealed or Safety Laminated versions.
This unique, textured glass, is the latest product launch for Nathan Allan, within 2016.
The complete guide_to_making_your_own_wineYewsat Lusat
A complete guide to making wine from citrus, flowers, Ribena, what utensil to use, fermentation process, sterilization, maturing, extraction tutorial, and many more.
The silver art has a millennial history. Since the man has worked the metals, the silver has a leading role, due to its beauty, the merits the therapeutic abilities, the intrinsic value and for the possibility to work it with imagination and creativity. Also endowed with high technology instruments, a modern firm cannot forget both the history of the things and of the man. To work the silver means to respect all this, to take care of it, as if the craftsmen and the industrialist they had the assignment to hand down values and traditions besides manufacturing beautiful objects and of value.
During our 14 years of operations, the company has gone through a vigorous process of metamorphosis, and the company has shaped itself to its present form. Now, we are proud of our stature the best in our trade, and will ever remain your most preferred choice for unique and quality Lifestyle Products.
Kevin Vollebregt & Vitaly Alekseyev: A great cocktail experience start with t...BAROMETER
Kevin Vollebregt - a new guy in town. He has been working as a marketeer in the restaurant industry for more than 7 years now. And for the last two years, he has been working as a global Brand Ambassador in the cocktail industry.
Vitaly Alekseyev - head bartender at the Duchess in Amsterdam (voted for a best new cocktail bar in 2015).
Similar to News & Views - The art of glass making (11)
1. My recent visit to Ngwenya Glass,
a glass blowing factory in Swaziland gave
me a crash course in the art of glass making
and has since changed the way I look at
any glassware. By Denise Mhlanga
FEATURE
S
et in the foothills of an ancient iron ore mine dating back 43 000
years is a remote village called Ngwenya (SiSwati word for
crocodile). It is here that a small group of Swati craftsmen and
women with age old artistry breathe life into unique handmade
products made from 100 percent recycled glass.
Ngwenya Glass, then known as Swazi Glass Craft, was started by
a Swedish Aid project in 1979 training Swazi locals in the art of
glassblowing. The factory closed in 1985 and was reopened in 1987
by Richard Alix and Chas Prettejohn.The new owners tracked down
some of the original staff from the factory including Sibusiso Mhlanga,
the master glassblower, and it was business as usual.
The factory produces a range of products including drinking glasses,
vases, jugs and ornamental African animals all handmade from 100
percent recycled glass. Ngwenya Glass reuses grey water and has
rainwater catchments for factory use. It has also started using purified
old engine oil to fuel their furnaces.
Fast forward to 2010, award-winning South African chef Reuben
Riffel and Source collaborated with Ngwenya Glass and launched the
Reuben & Ngwenya Glassware range available at selected Boardmans
stores countrywide.
Source is a company responsible for the majority of the export of
South African design products around the world.
Reuben & Ngwenya Glassware is an exquisite range of glassware
made from 100 percent recycled handmade mouth-blown glass
and endorsed by renowned chef Riffel. The reason why Ngwenya
Glass is so special is that only recycled glass is used, mainly old cold
drink bottles, and that each and every piece is totally handmade and
mouth blown.
Riffel was impressed by the Ngwenya Glass philosophy and
manufacturing and decided to see this first hand for himself. He
attended a workshop at the factory and was moved by the skill,
integrity, tradition and authenticity of the studio and he was inspired
to collaborate in order to develop this unique branded collection of
glassware. Once you experience the glass making process, you will
THE ARTOF
33
2. FEATURE FEATURE
appreciate and understand why this is unique.The factory employs 70 people including
two of the original blowers and four of the other original staff.
Sibusiso Mhlanga and James Magagula lead the artisanal team while displaying
extraordinary skills especially since recycled glass is very challenging to work with. It can
take up to eight people to make a single wine glass.
Mhlanga who underwent advanced training in Sweden during the 70s has tutored new
apprentices in the art of glassblowing. He also has his own range of designer pieces.
He explains that once they have collected all the glass to be recycled, it is washed and
labelling is removed. The glass is then put in a furnace to melt at a temperature of
1 250 degrees Celsius.The furnace runs 24 hours and uses paraffin.The melted glass is
then taken out on a blow pipe and blown into a mould of whatever shape or product
is being made.
Depending on what is being made, the glass is blown into a shape of say a wine glass
which usually requires three people in the production process itself. In total, it takes
11 people to complete one wine glass and as much as 80 glasses can be made in a day.
Once the glass has been blown to shape and the artists are happy with their handiwork,
the finished product is allowed to cool down in a cooling oven set to 800 degrees Celsius
and this process can take up to eight hours of more depending on what is being made.
Mhlanga says the emphasis is always on quality and not so much on quantity produced
a day. Ngwenya Glass sells its products locally in Swaziland, South Africa and they are
commissioned to do pieces for clients in Europe and the USA.
The Reuben and Ngwenya range enhances the drinking experience and Riffel really
enjoys the unique shapes of the stemware and being able to see the food through the
transparency of the serving pieces.The range is not only fashionable, it is practical and
unique, and definitely a collector’s item.
For more information, visit www.boardmans.co.za
The reason why Ngwenya Glass is so special is that only
recycled glass is used, mainly old cold drink bottles, and
that each and every piece is totally handmade...
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