What Is Wig-Wag?: Everything You Need To Know

The Wig-wag design is one of the most iconic patterns of modern glass art! The wigwag is so prolific, you’ve probably seen it almost every time you’ve gone to a smoke shop or browsed a collection of glass art. The wig-wag look is defined by flowing lines of multi-colored psychedelia. With this wavy, hypnotic look, a wig wag design emerges as an eye-catching piece that appeals to both glass collectors and smokers, and anyone who enjoys dynamic and exciting glass work.

The wig-wag technique involves creating vast, wave-like patterns in a glass piece via the careful manipulation of colored glass tubing or rods. Glass artists take strips of colored glass and apply it to a clear or colored tube that is then heated until made malleable. From there, the artist pulls and stretches the malleable glass in careful motions to give it the signature wig-wag look of a repeating wave pattern.

The origins of the wig-wag technique can be traced to the early days of American functional glass art. As studio glass-artists experimented more with color working, patterning, and shaping techniques, the technique for producing wig-wags became easier to accomplish, and the pattern became a recognizable style commonplace in glasswork in the early 2000s. As the design popularity grew, the wig-wag became common throughout glass communities to the point of being a benchmark in most glass artists’ style.

The Wig Wag is made in a careful process involving five key steps, the first being the application of colored glass onto a clear or solid base rod or tube. After this comes the heating process, where the assortment of colored stripes is heated by torch flame to become malleable. After this, the glass artist stretches the glass by twisting and pulling on the pliable bundle of colors in a back-and-forth motion that creates the distinct wave pattern that defines a wigwag. Once manipulated into a satisfactory look, the artist works to solidify the pattern by reheating the glass to smooth out any distorted ends into a clean and consolidated patterned look.

The true appreciation of a wig wag comes from knowing just how unique each one is, as each wig-wag is different from the last. However, if you were to put a discerning eye on the quality of the wig wag piece, you would find that the best pieces to appreciate have clean linework and even spacing. This shows that the glass artist took their time to yield a consistent pattern. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for the saturation of colors, if they really pop from the piece, as well as an indication that the glass artist responsible has their own artistic merits imbued in the piece.

To keep your wig-wag glass looking nice and preserved, you’ll want to make sure your taking the steps to protect it properly. This can be a simple as traveling with a case for the piece or ensuring that any falls or knocks against the glass are minimized. You can also keep your piece out of direct sunlight to prevent any long-term color fading that could happen over the years.

Cleaning your wig-wag piece is not too different than cleaning any type of functional glass or bong. You’ve got the same procedures for using isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt to break down any gunk on your piece. For a smaller piece like a pendant, you’ll want to use alcohol wipes for careful cleaning. Using Q-Tips or pipe cleaners helps clean dirt and grime from any hard-to-reach places. Give your piece a good dry afterward and you’re good to go. Regular cleaning of your piece keeps the visibility of the color and line work on your wig-wag always apparent.

Choosing a wig-wag style glass has some great benefits to go along with it.  A wig-wag has distinct recognizability that comes from its visually vibrant design that’s sure to catch attention. No two wig-wags are ever made the same, too, due to the nature of their production – each wig-wag will look slightly different from the last. A wig-wag piece is also an affordable display of high-end glass artistry and craftsmanship.

The cost of a wig-wag piece depends on a few factors, such as artist's reputation, the complexity of pattern work, the type and size of the piece, as well as the variety of colors used. This means that you’re more likely to see a rainbow wig-wag being pricier than a straight line wig-wag. Not only that but a pendant would also be significantly cheaper than a full rig made with a wig-wag design. 

The best wig-wag pieces can be found from reputable vendors and artists. This can be quite a challenge if you don’t know where to look! Luckily, sites like Giggle Glass host a plethora of talented artists with their own unique takes on the wig-wag, with a variety of wig-wag pieces available ranging from pendants to bowls and everything in between.