On eBay Now...Loon Island Lighthouse on Lake Sunapee NH - handcrafted blown glass ornament For Sale
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Loon Island Lighthouse on Lake Sunapee NH - handcrafted blown glass ornament:
$68.00
This exquisite blown glass ornament features the iconic Loon Island Lighthouse on Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire. Handcrafted, this ornament is a must-have for any Christmas tree and a great addition to any ornament collection.5" TallBlown GlassLake Sunapee NH Lighthouse Ornament
The lighthouse on a simple island of rock and greenery. Each ornament is artfully crafted by hand, using traditional old-world methods. Molten glass is carefully mouth-blown into finely carved molds. Then a hot solution of liquid silver is poured inside. The ornaments are hand-painted and glittered in a specific series of steps to achieve the beautiful finished creations. Produced in limited quantities, each is a treasure to cherish.
- Blown Glass (Mouth-Blown), Hand Decorated
- Silvered Christmas Tree Ornament
- Unique, Elegant. Shiny Opal Lacquers, Hologram Glitters & Crystals
- Comes to you Nestled in Acid-Free Tissue in our Signature Gift Box with note card explaining the history of the lighthouse
The State of New Hampshire has five lighthouses – with three of them on Lake Sunapee. The name Sunapee comes from the Algonquian Indian words “suna” meaning “goose”, and “apee”, meaning lake. The 4100-acre glacial lake is the 6th largest in NH and was formed 11,000 years ago when glaciers melted. The glistening Class A waters stretch over 10 miles from Georges Mills Harbor in Sunapee to Newbury Harbor. In 1891, the steamship Edmund Burke struck an underwater ledge which led to petitioning for a lighthouse on Loon Island. A wooden tower was built and named Loon Island Light in 1893 by local steamship owners. The tower was destroyed by lightning in 1960 and rebuilt that same year. Today, the lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places, owned by the State of NH, and maintained by the Lake Sunapee Protective Association (LSPA).
How the Ornament is Made
Shaping
The 3-D design is used by the sculptor to sculpt a clay model which is then used to create the actual mold into which the glass is blown and shaped. To start, the blower will gently roll the glass pipette over the open flame to warm it.
Sealing one end, the blower will blow a small ball shape before closeting the parts of the mold over it. Once closed, the blower continues to blow so that the molten glass fills the entire interior of the mold.
Silvering
After it is blown, the shape is then cooled. At this point the ball may be silvered or not. Silvering is the process by which a clear drop of silver nitrate is inserted into the glass ornament. The ornament is then submerged into a tub of hot water and shaken so that the nitrate/water solution coats the interior of the glass shape. The heat of the bath makes the nitrate turn silver and it is this silver coating on the inside of the ornament that creates the incredible luminosity in the paint used on the exterior of the ornament.
Decorating
Silvered or not, once the glass shape is cooled and dried, the next step is to decorate the ornament. It takes hours! Once the paints and glitters have dried, the neck of the ornament is cut and cap, loop and medallion are attached. Related Items:
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