FOR THE MASSES

The phrase “mass production” can seem to be a negative especially when admiring work of a crafts person. Expressions such as “oh that’s all mass produced” is seen as an insult and usually deliberately delivered. However, as a person who at times creates in a mass production line scenario, I take exemption to this misuse of the term.

I have and still do make many items in a mass approach style. At the moment I am making glass angles and have an order for fifty. Is that enough for the task to be called “mass produced”? I think its close to the line but certainly some will view as making fifty of anything as mass production. Over the years I must have made thousands so that certainly is mass producing. Each and every time remains unique as even though I make a lot of certain items then because each is handmade then they are unique. Same could be said for mass producing using this definition. When it comes to using moulds to churn out so called unique items then I am not so sure.

My first job as a scientific glassblower was making 1500 test tubes and even though each was handmade still the work promotes as mass production. My second job was for the same item but this time I was making 2000 of the little blighters!

The great thing about making a lot of one item is that one perfects all the techniques involved and erases all the so-called pinch points and the enjoyment is focused on the creativity of each item rather than the end result.

I used to make wedding favours and that amounted to making at least fifty small items, so I had to develop a technique to make sure I made them well, to time and also gave me pleasure in the process. The additional important factor to consider is efficient use of material. So, glass tubes and rods are made in 1500mm long pieces which have to be used up with no waste. Some of designs have been driven by using the amount of glass that a 1500mm length of glass can equally be divided.

I do use the component assembly method where lots of parts of an item are made beforehand and then all fixed together at a later time. I used to make glass puffins by making all the bodies then going back and adding wings and features. This in my opinion destroyed the creativity a bit and so now I make each puffin from start to finish in one go.

I know artists that work on their art with involving several paintings at a time. They have their work set up and then just go around with a flick of paint here and a dab there. I suppose it’s a good idea if say you are using a lot of one colour across several paintings. I have seen myself work across several items at once using components. Obviously, one has to watch out that an elephant’s trunk doesn’t become a branch of a tree. Again, design things that are multifunctional helps. My pigs’ ears are also used for petals of daffodils. No one notices or if they do, they are too polite to say anything. It maybe that a person who buys a glass pig is not the same person who would buy a glass daffodil.

There are glass working techniques that I just love and wish I could simply spend the rest of my life just practising the technique. By incorporating such techniques in my mass production work then the boredom which is perceived is outweighed by the pleasure I get from endless repeating a favourite technique.

For those that hate the term “mass production” then there is an expression called “short runs”. Quite where the two descriptions are segregated then I have no idea. I usually specify in short runs which in my mind is less than 100 pieces. I was asked to make glass refills for vapes and the customer asked for exactly 100 so I base my understanding on this experience.
The great advantage of making lots of similar (note, not same) items is that at the end of the process one can select the best made objects. Sometimes I have to really get into a technique, and this takes time and practice and do make a lot of pieces then choose the best the bunch. Bit like wring words together for a blog!