What Is Cullet Glass? A Brief History

“What is this beautiful piece of aqua glass?” “Is this sea glass?” “Did it come from the ocean?”

At SwellColors Glass Studio we carry cullet glass fragments. They’re stunning pieces that catch the eye — and also spark curiosity. Almost every customer who walks through the door comments on these stunning “glass chunks,” but not many people know where they come from. And let us tell you, the history is pretty interesting.

No, they don’t come from the ocean. No, they don’t come from space. No, they’re not made by lightening striking the ground. Our culet glass comes from an old window and door factory near the Pine Barrens in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. Overflow glass would be poured from their furnaces and crucibles when their machines needed to be serviced. The overflow glass was essentially garbage. However, it was salvaged, chiseled, polished and transformed into a beautiful, one-of-a-kind piece of art.

But how does it get that color, you may ask? Your glass windows and doors don’t carry that aqua hue! It’s the density of the glass that gives it that ocean-like color.

Our cullet glass is not only eye-catching, but provides a little piece of NJ history! What do you think of them? Let us know in the comments section!