Sandblasting is a technique used to shade, frost or carve glass or other mediums.  Your piece may encompass one or more of these following sandblasting techniques.

“SURFACE ETCHED GLASS” is a sandblasting technique that affect the surface of the glass to diffuse light, reduce glare and gives the glass a white, frosted appearance.  It does not go deep into the glass like carved glass and creates a one-dimensional effect.

“CARVED GLASS” has been sandblasted DEEPER into the surface, creating a three-dimensional sculpted image, carving a relief design, creating a much more detailed effect, obtaining differing depths within the carved image. The carved EDGES within the image will actually appear whiter and brighter, as they pick up and reflect the surrounding light. The image will appear three dimensional, as if it is floating within the glass.


"GLUE CHIPPED GLASS"
Glue chipped glass is usually sandblasted first to give the glass "bite."  A layer of animal hide glue is applied to the surface of the glass after it's sandblasted.  As the glue dries it shrinks and, in doing so, chips thin layers of glass from the surface, leaving a decorative and unique pattern which is never the same twice.