Glory Holes - Part 1
As you have probably ascertained by now, I like to know the history behind things as an attempt to make my games a little more realistic. I am constantly reading, watching and doing things to help me understand various things about historical societies so they can be included, or I can be prepared when a player pulls a rabbit out of their hat.
Today is a perfect example, as we discuss Glory Holes and Glassblowing.
Glassblowing is an ancient craft that has been practiced for thousands of years. The art of glassblowing involves melting glass at high temperatures, blowing air into it through a tube, and shaping it into beautiful, intricate designs. While many people may be familiar with the concept of glassblowing, there is a lesser-known aspect of the craft that has a rather unexpected name: the glory hole.
Contrary to popular belief, the term "glory hole" did not originate in reference to a public sex act involving a hole in a bathroom stall. In fact, the term has been used in glassblowing for centuries. The glory hole is a high-powered furnace used to partially or completely reheat unfinished glass for the purpose of shaping or polishing it. The furnace is so named because of the "circle or ring of light" that surrounds the glass as it is heated to its optimal temperature.
Rabanus Maurus (left) with Alcuin presents his work to Otgar of Mainz (right). Illustration from a Fulda manuscript, c. 830–840.
The earliest evidence of the glory hole comes from a 1023 A.D. manuscript by a Benedictine monk named Rabanus Maurus. The manuscript depicts a glass furnace as a multilevel cylindrical structure with multiple "glory holes" giving access to the glass pots. By the time of the Renaissance, glassblowing techniques had been perfected as an art form and a science. For early modern glassblowers, the glory hole was already an essential part of their craft; it just wasn't called that yet.
The term "glory hole" first appeared in English in 1825, when it was described as "a receptacle (as a drawer, room, etc,) in which things are heaped together without any attempt at order or tidiness." It wasn't until 1849 that the term was used in reference to glassblowing, in an English text called Curiosities of Glass Making by Apsley Pellatt. The text discusses the best arrangements for annealing glass and mentions the importance of not losing time after finishing the work, as the hotter the glass enters the arch, the better. "On this account," Pellatt writes, "there are usually two or more furnaces, which are called the working furnace, and the glory-hole."
First known image of a glory hole ca. 1849
Today, glassblowers continue to use the glory hole in their work. The furnace can reach temperatures of over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, making it an essential tool for shaping and manipulating hot glass. While the term "glory hole" may still be associated with a certain type of sexual activity, it is important to remember that it has a long and legitimate history in the world of glassblowing.
But wait, is there another reference to Glory Holes with regards to gaming. Why yes there is, and I have a copy that will be reviewed (or possibly played) at a later date. Stay Tuned.
-Ed
