Very hot glass and a cool head
Manson first heats a series of coloured glass rods with a blowtorch until they’re soft enough to cut and shape into whatever form he needs for his design such as petals, buds and leaves, a technique called lamp work.
The tiny pieces are placed in a circular metal holder called a mould using tweezers and warmed to approximately 500 ˚ C from underneath using a heated gas ring.
The sticky molten glass used to encase the delicate lampwork is heated in a small pot at the bottom of the hot oven until its consistency is similar to syrup.
It’s gathered on the end of a rod which Will turns, a bit like collecting candy floss.
While the glass is hot the rod must be constantly turned to counter the effects of gravity.
The soft glass on the end of the iron is shaped into what will be the main body of glass forming the paperweight and then placed on the floral design on the mould to “pick up” the flower into the main body of the paperweight.
Once picked up, the design can now be seen in the glass. It is smoothed into the clear glass using more heat before more glass is added, including coloured glass if desired for the base or backdrop to the design, and shaped.
The weight then goes into the kiln overnight at 500 ˚ C before William uses a series of grinders and polishers to create the final gleaming shape.