The History of Glass Blowing in Tonalá, Mexico
Glass blowing has long been a cherished form of art by Mexican artisans. The very first glass pieces produced in North America, were created in Puebla Mexico around 1535 by artisans brought by the Spanish from Europe. The tools were simplistic (and the same today) as the artisan starts out with some molten glass and a long hollow pipe.
The city of Tonalá, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, is a handicraft hub specializing in pottery and glass. Tonala’s glass industry dates to pre-Hispanic times when indigenous peoples produced rudimentary objects with obsidian and other materials. Today, Tonala is home to some of the most skilled Mexican artisans who create beautiful hand-blown glass using traditional techniques passed down from generation to generation..