Air Bubbles in Glass: A Mark of the Maker’s Hand

Each piece of our glassware is mouth-blown and shaped by hand, made to be lived with. Occasionally, that means you may notice a tiny bubble suspended in the glass, and naturally wonder if something is wrong. It’s a question we’re asked often, and the answer is a reassuring one. Bubbles are not a flaw. They are a quiet sign of how the piece was made: individually, by hand, by skilled craftspeople.

Here, we explain what causes these tiny bubbles, why they appear in handmade glassware, and what they say about the craft behind every piece you bring home.

Featured: Glass making process

To understand the bubbles, it helps to understand the material. The raw ingredients of glass, sand, ash and lime, are heated in the kiln until molten. Once the basic form is blown, the piece is finished by hand while the glass is still hot.

Bubbles can appear when small pockets of air are trapped within the molten glass during the glassmaking process. They are one of the features particularly unique to handmade, mouth-blown glass.

It takes time and care to make each product by hand, and we believe this helps to make each piece unique. In handmade, mouth-blown glass, a few small bubbles are simply part of that character.

No, bubbles are not a flaw. The majority of our pieces are individually crafted by hand, which means our glassware will often contain features particularly unique to handmade, mouth-blown glass. Bubbles are certainly one such feature. We believe this helps to make each piece unique, and would view it as a sign of the quality and authenticity of our craft, as opposed to a shortcoming of the product.

We have collaborated with craftsmen for over fifty years. We recognise the value of skilled craft in the modern era, and it takes time and care to make each product by hand.

Glassblowers work in teams, with each person responsible for a different element of the process, training for years to perfect their craft. Once the basic form is blown, the piece is finished by hand while the glass is still hot. One of the most skilled finishing techniques is scissor cutting the hot glass to produce a thick, rounded rim. Mouth-blown glass offers almost endless potential for transformation, and experience allows our makers to push the boundaries of hand production.

We believe in using traditional methods to realise original designs, and our respect for the art and dexterity of craftsmanship ensures we create products with integrity. Because each piece is made individually by hand rather than by machine, small bubbles are a natural part of that process.

If you would like to see how it is done, our Craft page shows how each piece is made by hand.

Why are there air bubbles in my new glassware?

Because it was individually crafted by hand. Bubbles can appear when small pockets of air are trapped within the molten glass during the glassmaking process. It is a feature particularly unique to handmade, mouth-blown glass, not a manufacturing fault.

Do air bubbles affect the quality of the glass?

We would view a bubble as a sign of the quality and authenticity of our craft, rather than a shortcoming of the product. It is a natural feature of glass that has been individually crafted by hand.

Will every piece have bubbles?

Not every one. Many of our glasses, tumblers and vases are perfectly clear. But because each is made individually, occasional small bubbles or subtle variations are to be expected across a collection.

Can I return a glass because of an air bubble?

Air bubbles are not a defect. They are a feature particularly unique to handmade, mouth-blown glass, and a sign of the quality and authenticity of our craft. If you are nonetheless unhappy with your piece, you are welcome to return it to us and we will arrange a refund. Please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

A small bubble is a sign of the quality and authenticity of our craft, and part of what makes each piece unique. Explore our LSA Wine Glasses, Tumblers and Vases, each one mouth-blown and individually crafted by hand.