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[Glass is] common in some parts of the Realms, and rare as gold and gems in others—and in most places in the Realms, windows are leaded affairs of many small panes, not huge, rectangular unbroken panes. Moreover, most glass is “shifty” (full of bubbles and uneven thicknesses and whorls that distort reflections and vision through them). Shutters are the norm: full overlapping boards sealed with pitch in winter, and slats over which are tacked layers of gauze to keep out insects in the summer (if the dust gets bad, occupants wet down the gauze to impede it). The abodes of the poor will have shutters but lack glass at all, and some homes have frames around window-openings into which boards can be slid (and precious arrays of glass are taken out of storage and slide into place only on special occasions, such as royal visits, marriages, and the like).

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In most parts of the Dales, drinking vessels are of carved wood, or soak-sealed leather, or ceramic, and a “glass glass” is regarded as an incredible luxury (why make a drinking-vessel out of something THAT breakable, when glass is so expensive etc. etc.?).

Mica is used in place of glass in some areas (where it can be easily found and mined), and certain dwarf and gnome clans know of ways to cut certain types of stone very thinly, to arrive at slate-like slabs that when set into window-frames admit light through (more or less as a glow), but aren’t transparent.

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Originally posted by thom

Hmmm..so I'm getting the feeling that leaded crystal glassware doesn't exist in the Realms. Oh well, I guess I'll just 'extrapolate' who would be a reasonable source for it...I like George's idea of the elves, although glassblowing is hot work over a furnace or kiln. Thanks for the answers guys, I just wanted to check first before going my own way!

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