Despite the simple raw materials, the glass grape-making process is complicated and demands the experience of artists. The size of glass grapes for blowing depends on the different grape varieties to be made. The pigment is not only used to color the beads, leaves and stems but also to keep the colors from running. Each grape bead needs to be colored more than three times. After the colored grapes dry, a thin layer of wax is coated onto the grapes.
“Glass grapes are characterized by their close similarity to the appearance of genuine grapes, with frost hanging on the surface,” said Chang Hong.
The frost dipping skill is also Chang Hong’s expertise, which makes the glass grapes look like ones just picked from the grape trellis.
After frost dipping, the scattered beads, leaves, stems and vines are assembled together to complete the grape bunch.
In 1915, the Chang family’s stunning grapes debuted at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. After nearly a century, the Chang grapes make a second appearance at the Shanghai World Expo..
"At the Expo in Shanghai,” said Chang Hong, “everyone who sees my grapes could not help but to ask, ‘is it real or fake?’ And everyone wants to reach out and touch it."
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