5 Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Glass Sculptures

Glass artwork has been around for a very long time. Some historians date the creation of the first glass back to 5,000 BC when it was developed in what is Syria today and archaeologists place the start date for man made glass at 3,500 BC. Evidence from that time has been found in Egypt and Mesopotamia. As long as there has been glass, people have made it into art. Glass sculptures have been around at least since the invention of glass blowing, which was said to have been started in the first century BC in the Roman Empire.

The modern day studio art movement created new and unusual ways to make art from the material. In 1962, a chemist and engineer, Dominick Labino, teamed up with a ceramics professor, Harvey Littleton to experiment with melting glass. They used a small furnace and began created glass works of art such as glass sculptures. Today, artists all over the world make contemporary glass art.

If you have purchased such a piece from an art auction or glass artists gallery, you may be looking for a way to take care of it. Here are some mistakes you can avoid:

1. Do not use the wrong cleaner for your glass sculptures. The best way to avoid doing this is to know what kind of glass artwork you have. If you have a piece of art that has a custom or special finish, you can do a lot of damage to it if you use the wrong cleaner. The glass that is used for glass sculptures can be hard or soft. If you are unclear about what kind you have or what cleaners can be used on it, you should talk to the place where yu bought it. They can help you get the right cleaner.
2. Do not put your glass sculptures in the dishwasher. Some people assume that because they put their glassware in the dishwasher, they can do the same thing with their pieces of art that are made from glass. Many glass sculptures are very sensitive to heat. There is a term used by experts to describe what can happen to items put in the dishwasher. They refer to the sudden application of hot water as “thermal shock.” It can damage anything that is put in the dishwasher that has not be labeled “dishwasher safe.”When you put your art work in to the dishwasher, it can crack. Just avoid doing this, even if you are tempted.
3. Do not wear your jewelry while you are cleaning your glass art. There are a lot of ways you can do damage to your glass pieces of art when you are wearing jewelry as you clean them. If you have a diamond ring, it can scratch or cut the glass. You will do your art and your jewelry a big solid by taking it off before you start any cleaning project.
4. Do not use cleaners that are abrasive. Harsh chemicals should not be used on your glass sculptures. The same holds true for cleaners that have crystals or other abrasive elements. Never use steel wool or similar cleaning tools to clean your glass sculptures. It is much easier to scratch your glass art than you may think so you should only use soft clothes and rags or paper towels to clean your glass sculptures.
5. Do not try to polish or buff out a scratch. If you have a scratch on a piece of glass art, it may seem like an easy thing to take care of at home but the likelihood is more than good that you will do more damage to your pieces by doing this. If you need to have scratches on your glass sculptures, you should take those pieces to professionals to take care of your problems. Even the smallest scratches need to be handled by professionals who have been trained how to deal with issues with glass. If you have a problem that bothers you a lot with a piece, you will have a much better outcome this way.

Glass sculptures and other pieces of art come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and styles. These tips can help you keep your pieces looking great.