In pictures and video: Artists are top of the glass in Stourbridge
They were skills developed in the sweltering factories and towering cones of the Black Country.
And now a new generation of artists have been showcasing their own skills in contemporary glass.
The British Glass Biennale draws entries from artists based around the world to exhibit during the event held in Stourbridge's well known Glass Quarter.
It is the highlight of the International Festival of Glass running at venues across the area this weekend. Two artists from the Black Country are among 77 to be recognised as part of the biennale which held at the Ruskin Glass Centre, Amblecote.
Main award winner, scooping the £3,000 British Glass Biennale prize, was Pembrokeshire based artist Ashraf Hanna who created two untitled pieces.
Former University of Wolverhampton student Elliot Walker, aged 27, was another prize winner to win support worth £3,000.
Mr Walke, works between a studio in London and the Ruskin Glass Centre, and has only been in the industry for five years.
His winning piece, called Still Life with Lime, is textured with grey glasses and bottles and a polished green glass sliced lime.
He said: "This is the biggest show for glass work in the country and people come here from around the world so it is brilliant to win."
Glass artist Vic Bamforth, who has his studio at the Ruskin Glass Centre, also had two pieces selected for the show.
His two blown and painted graal glass-blown pieces, called Ooz Going to Dudley Zoo and The Strongest Links, feature a portrait of activist Mary Macarthur and colourful Black Country scenes.
Glass festival project director, Elisabeth Johnson, said: "All of our judges had a really tough job on their hands, the quality of the pieces on show was astounding."
