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Lampwork Process:The term "lampwork" refers to the process of shaping and decorating glass in flame. Though the original oil burning lamps that lent their name to the process have been replaced by modern oxygen and propane torches, the name lampwork remains. Lampwork art began in the ancient world—in Syria and Egypt as early as 1700 BC, and China as early as 550 BC. By the 11th century, examples can be found in all of the major countries on the Mediterranean and along the silk road. Today, foundries in Italy, Germany and Czechoslovakia produce high quality glass rods that modern glass artists like us use in turn to create beautiful and durable lampwork beads. We combine our own lampwork beads, sterling silver and Swarovski crystals into unique jewelry. Glass is melted in the flame and fed onto a stainless steel mandrel which has been coated in bead release
Next, the mandrel is slowly rotated in the flame to let heat, gravity and surface tension shape the bead
Now, decorations are applied with thin glass stringers that have pulled from larger rods
The decorations are then melted down (sometimes left raised) and a final shaping is given to the bead
The finished bead is ready to go into the kiln for annealing. This is the process by which you control the time and temperature at which the bead cools down. This is important so that there isn't any internal stress which could cause cracking if the bead cools too quickly. After annealing, these beads can last for ages and be wonderful heirlooms to pass down to loved ones.
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