Algy the Piccadilly Johnny

August 22, 2005 7:48 PM

Glassy eyes. The German art of glass eye blowing was developed in Lauscha, Germany in 1835 using cryolite glass. It's a dying art, Australia has only one practitioner in the country. This slow loading but fascinating video [sorry, Windows media] shows the process (apparently in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea). With a family history in the trade and a pioneer in contact lens development, this man's daughter feels that her father is in need of a bit of recognition.
posted by tellurian (12 comments total)

Wonderful post!
posted by johnj at 8:20 PM on August 22, 2005

As impressive as the process is, the end result is still creepy.
posted by awesomebrad at 8:21 PM on August 22, 2005

Amazing talent... really amazing.
posted by odinsdream at 9:01 PM on August 22, 2005

Fascinating. God forbid that anyone should lose an eye, but if it happens, you're in good company:

Sammy Davis, Jr. -- Lost his left eye in an car wreck in 1954. Depressed from the loss, he thought his career was over until his friend Frank Sinatra told him that that he was at a crossroads, that he could either fade away or overcome the loss and go on to greatness. Weeks later, at Sammy's first public appearance since the crash, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and others made a surprise appearance on stage -- all wearing eyepatches. After that, Sammy went on to be one of the great entertainers of all time, and a member of the famous "Rat Pack".

You can always opt for a little style until your artificial eye is ready. Fortunately, you won't have to share, you Lucky dog.
posted by cenoxo at 9:33 PM on August 22, 2005

Outstanding post tellurian.
posted by three blind mice at 11:13 PM on August 22, 2005

I read that as glass eye bowling about three times before realizing what it actually said. Makes more sense this way, but I'd love to see a post about glass eye bowling. It takes serious skill you know, glass eyes are significantly smaller than bowling balls.
posted by Jawn at 11:19 PM on August 22, 2005

Fascinating. Please go find more like this.
posted by IndigoJones at 4:56 AM on August 23, 2005

Eye like this post. Thanks.
posted by OmieWise at 6:28 AM on August 23, 2005

Eye agree.
posted by hypersloth at 7:52 AM on August 23, 2005

On preview, I mean, "Aye, agree."
posted by hypersloth at 7:55 AM on August 23, 2005

Your New Glass Eye.
posted by malocchio at 9:49 AM on August 23, 2005

Thank you all for the praise. cenoxo, I see that James Joyce is on that one-eyed list. That would explain the presence of Algy; Or the Piccadilly Johnny with the Little Glass Eye in his Sheet Music Collection.
posted by tellurian at 4:42 PM on August 23, 2005