Art glass is an item made of glass as a form of art and often for use. It is often combined with other materials and there are many special techniques that are used to create a wide range of looks and values.
The oldest technique in working with glass is glassblowing. It involves heating glass in a furnace, gathering the heated glass on the end of a blowpipe and blowing it into shape.
The two other methods are casting, and lamp working.
Casting glass involves pouring molten glass into a mold, and allowing it to melt in a furnace and the lamp work (or flame work) technique involves heating pencil thin glass canes and fusing them over an open flame using a torch, tweezers, and other small tools.
Murano glass is a commonly used term. It is simply art glass that was made on the Venetian Island of Murano Italy which has produced glassware for centuries.