Monday we marveled at the craftsmanship of the glass blowers on Murano Island in the Venetian lagoon. I wish I had remembered (or recorded or asked) the name of the apprentice craftsman working here:
![The glass starts out as sand, heated in an oven at 1,000 degrees Celsius, heated by methane gas.](http://2roadsdiverged.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/glass-in-furnace-576x1024.jpg)
The glass starts out as sand, heated by methane gas in a furnace at 1,000 degrees Celsius.
![Blowing glass is not an expression. It's what they do.](http://2roadsdiverged.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/blowing-glass-576x1024.jpg)
Blowing glass is not an expression. It’s what they do.
![The artist starts to shape the head of a horse from the glowing lump.](http://2roadsdiverged.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/horse-getting-started-576x1024.jpg)
The artist starts to shape the head of a horse from the glowing lump.
![From the still-glowing body of the horse, the craftsman pulls out delicate legs and a tail.](http://2roadsdiverged.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Horse-taking-shape-576x1024.jpg)
From the still-glowing body of the horse, the craftsman pulls out delicate legs and a tail.
![From the still-glowing body of the horse, the craftsman deftly pulls out four delicate legs and a tail.](http://2roadsdiverged.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/horse-on-its-side-576x1024.jpg)
As the horse starts to cool, the craftsman shapes it.
![The artist stand the finished horse on its feet and tail.](http://2roadsdiverged.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/horse-576x1024.jpg)
The artist stand the finished horse on its feet and tail.
I’ll add a close-up of the finished horse when we get back home. Right now it’s wrapped to protect it.
Update: And here’s the finished horse.
![horse finished](http://2roadsdiverged.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/horse-finished.jpg)