Pastorale
Also called pastoral (Murano), pastorale fork
A long fork that carries a plate of cane or murrine into the glory hole to be heated for a pick-up.
What it is
The pastorale is a tool with a very long handle, forked at one end to hold a plate, with a T at the other end so it can’t roll and drop everything.[1] Spiral Arts’ version, for example, is 60” long, weighs 13 pounds, and holds a 16”-long plate.[2]
How it’s used
The long handle lets the plate go into the furnace or glory hole to preheat the canes laid on it.[1] Glass artist David Patchen, who heats plates of cane and murrine this way, describes the trade-offs in building one: solid forks are too heavy unless made from thinner stock, which then tends to be too weak; hollow forks can bend; and mild steel spalls and weakens under intense heat.[3]
History
The name comes from pastore, “shepherd”: it’s the shepherd’s staff, or crosier.[1]
Sources
Pastorale in the archive 3
| Photo | Tool | Maker | Sellers |
|---|---|---|---|
| PastoraleA 6' pastorale with a 5" × 10" fork, for carrying a plate of cane into the glory hole. | Correll Glass Studio | 1 | |
| Pastorale ForkA stainless steel pastorale fork, with other sizes available on request. | Masters of Glass | 1 | |
| Pastorale ForkA T-handled fork that carries a plate up to 16" long (6" or wider) and sets it down on a standard fire brick. | Spiral Arts | 1 |
