The Glass Factory - Hand Blown Mexican Glass

Glass has been hand blown by almost every culture since ancient times. Cabo San Lucas is home to what was for many years the only glass factory on the Baja peninsula. Watching the artesans blow glass is mesmerizing, the technique fascinating. Go before 2 p.m., while the taller (shop) is humming with activity. Most tour agencies offer escorted visits to the Glass Factory with a bilingual guide, or you can take a taxi and run on your own time. There's a shop on-site for purchasing glassware, figurines, plates and bowls; and special orders are welcome.

During 1990, local entrepreneur Sebastian Romo opened what was, for many years, the only hand-blown glass factory on the Baja Peninsula. Vitrofusion, located out on the bypass road to Todos Santos, was originally started to meet the demands of local hotels and restaurants. For many years Romo had to bring his maestros from the mainland, now the technique is firmly entrenched here in Cabo San Lucas. Today the foundry employs over 30 artisans who produce close to 500 one-of-a-kind pieces daily. Using recycled, lead-free glass, the maestros create custom orders for hotels, restaurants and retail shops as well as original pieces for groups and individual buyers.
Once inside, you'll be impressed with the many creative examples of what the foundry is capable of producing, including a glass aggregate inset on the showroom floor. Since 1998 Romo has been expanding the facility to include a pewter foundry and a metal shop and have also increased the studio and showroom space.

While you will see many examples of Mexican blown glass in the shops of Los Cabos, a trip to the Glass Factory provides a first hand glimpse into the centuries-old art of glass blowing. Glassmaking was accidentally discovered by potters around 3000 B.C. and the technique of glass blowing was invented around 100 B.C.
The first glass made in North America was in Mexico in 1535 by artisans brought by the Spanish from Europe. Although these original glassworks were short lived, glassblowing was reintroduced into Mexico hundreds of years ago and flourished, due largely to the simplicity of the ingredients and the ingenuity of the Mexican arts and crafts tradition. Today Mexico is well known for affordable, rustic handblown drinking glasses, many of them characterized by a cobalt blue band at the rim. To create different colors, various metal oxides are added.

Small amounts of iron and sulfur will achieve amber and brown effects while green and aqua glasses require iron. Light blues need copper, while dark blues contain very small quantities of cobalt. Pastel colors can also be achieved by adding crushed glass of the desired color. Regular tours to the Glass Factory with a bilingual guide are available or you may take a taxi and run on your own time. The best time to go is between 6 am and 2 pm, while the place is humming with activity. Watching the artisans at their craft is mesmerizing, the technique fascinating. The well stocked shop features functional items like glasses, plates and pitchers as well as decorative items. When buying more porous hand-blown glass for daily use, it's a good idea to buy extras; they chip easily. Custom orders can take time depending upon how busy the factory is.