Glass Blowers © Marilyn Anderson. Linocut, 9 1/16″ x 11 7/8″
The glass blowers alternately blow into a tube to form the molten glass and use tongs and other tools to further shape it. Unlike some other parts of the world, such as Egypt, where glass making was first done thousands of years ago, it was not one of the arts and industries of the ancient Maya. It appears that this craft came to Guatemala relatively recently possibly introduced by the Spanish during colonial times. Glass blowing is not widely done in Guatemala, but one coop in Zunil is noteworthy. Well organized, they produce a variety of items for sale in Guatemala and for export.
The glass blowers alternately blow into a tube to form the molten glass and use tongs and other tools to further shape it. Unlike some other parts of the world, such as Egypt, where glass making was first done thousands of years ago, it was not one of the arts and industries of the ancient Maya. It appears that this craft came to Guatemala relatively recently possibly introduced by the Spanish during colonial times. Glass blowing is not widely done in Guatemala, but one coop in Zunil is noteworthy. Well organized, they produce a variety of items for sale in Guatemala and for export.