Glassblowing is a craft that involves shaping molten glass into various forms using a blowpipe. The process begins by heating silica sand and other materials in a furnace until they melt into a thick, viscous liquid. Artisans then gather this molten glass on the end of a blowpipe and blow air into it, creating bubbles that expand the glass into desired shapes. Once the glass is shaped, it is often further manipulated with tools to add details or textures. After shaping, the glass must cool slowly in a annealer to prevent cracking. This ancient technique allows for the creation of both functional items and decorative art pieces.