Lighting & Design Glossary - M
These fixtures have been manufactured to withstand harsh coastal environments. Marine Grade light fixtures are water tight and made from noncorrosive materials (like galvanized metal or stainless steel). They are often reinforced with extra coats of lacquer or powder-coated finishes or paints.
Also, Master Tradesman. Traditionally, a person who, having gone through apprentice and journeyman status, was accepted into their craft or trade's respective guild. While guilds no longer exist, this progression model is still practiced informally in areas such as plumbing, woodworking, electrical work, etc.
A durable opaque glass that is distinguished by its nearly imperceptible fine lines. It is sometimes used as the glass lens in recessed lighting--and often is used for shower doors and office partitions.
A way of describing the surface of an object as dull or without lustre. In metallurgy, this refers to the unfinished metallic product of the smelting of certain sulfide ores, especially those of copper.
Also known as Medium Density Fibreboard. It is an engineered wood product made out of broken-down hard and soft wood fibers, which are combined with wax and resin and re-composed with heat and pressure into workable planks. Denser than plywood or particle board, but suitable for similar applications.
Coating metal on the surface of non-metallic objects, such as with mirrors. Different methods of metallization include spraying, immersion, vacuum metallization, etc.
The architectural, interior and product design form that generally describes mid-20th century developments in modern design, architecture, and urban development from roughly 1933 to 1965. Influenced by the simple, natural shapes found in Scandinavian design.
Opaque or translucent pressed or blown milky white or colored glass.
Italian for "a thousand flowers," a very intricate art glass pattern produced with numerous tiny colored and patterned glass rods via the murrine technique.
A ubiquitous and sometimes misunderstood word. On one hand, Modern can refer to designs and styles of today and is often synonymous with contemporary. On the other, the Modern design movement took place in the 1960s and into the 1970s...bright colors, overstated roundness of form, cool new plastics of all colors...groovy, man.
Molten glass is blown or pressed into a mold, where it assumes the interior shape and pattern before it cools and hardens.
Refers to the manufacturing process of a knife. A monobloc knife is formed from a single piece of metal, stamped or cold-forged rather than hot-forged. This process is less expensive, but it also means that a monobloc knife may not hold its edge as long as a hot-forged knife.
Small pieces of colored glass arranged to form a larger cohesive image or pattern. Often seen in glass pendant lights.
A glassforming technique that involves inflating the molten glass into a bubble, or parison, with the aid of a blowpipe or blow tube.
A general term for any type of art glass created by glassmakers on the Italian island of Murano; encompasses a variety of art glass manufacturing techniques.
A complex form of glass cane-working; intricate patterns made in a glass cane/rod, revealed when cut in cross-sections.
