Located in the heart of Kajiado County in Kenya is Kitengela Hot Glass, a creative manufacturing space that turns old pieces glass into eye-catching designs of different forms. Their ingenious recycling model not only helps the environment but also creates employment for dozens of citizens in the area.
Here's a step-by-step process, in pictures, of how they do it.
1. Here is the raw material, 100% recycled glass sourced from various sites.
2. The glass is melted in a furnace then one end of a metal rod is dipped into the molten glass and the art begins.
3. With the melted glass attached to the end of the rod, the glass smith starts blowing it into shape then proceeds to shape it by hand while still occasionally blowing into it.
4. This piece was made purely for demonstration and he finalized it in a couple of minutes. The final product (right) shattered to pieces a few minutes after exposure to air without being hardened. Intricate pieces require more care and handling as we shall see in the beautiful vessel in the next series of pictures.
5. To create captivating designs, patterns are normally incorporated using extra glass.
6. Occasionally, the glass cools down in the middle of the process, making it hard to blow and shape it. To curb this, the glass smith returns it to the furnace for a few minutes to get the temperature back up then proceeds with the crafting.
7. Final touches such as the handle is placed, rendering this beautiful jug complete. But wait, not just yet.
8. To prevent the glass breaking upon cooling as we saw with the first piece, this jug goes through a final heat treatment that will ensure its longevity in your home or workspace.
9. The final products that come from the manufacturing plant range from beads, glasses, chandeliers, bowls, goblets and even mosaics (such as the one pictured below), All these pieces keep culture alive while adding a spice of creativity in our everyday lives. All 100% recycled, 100% hand-made, 100% Kenyan.
Side note: See the marver (hot metallic bench) in step 2? I burnt my hand pretty bad on it while trying to get these photos. Anything for the craft, I guess?
