The ancient art of lampworking was widely used in Italy in the 1300s. From there it spread to the rest of Europe and eventually further afield to the Americas and the rest of the world. Today there are lampwork bead artists found in most countries in the world.
Many of them prefer to work from their home studios where they painstakingly produce their unique creations. They are made one at a time using different colors, styles and techniques. Some have created their own recognizable style through many years of working with beads. They are so devoted to producing quality products that they have no hesitation in offering guarantees to customers.
They use many different types of glass but the most commonly used are soft soda-lime glass and hard borosilicate. Borosilicate does not crack easily and is more forgiving but it requires a higher temperature and therefore use of larger torches and oxygen instead of air. It is also more expensive and a smaller range of colors are available.
Unlike glass blowers who require a furnace, these artisans use torches. A torch may be attached to a bench for a more stationary flame whilst a hand held one offers heat that can be maneuvered. A wire called a mandrel is used and it is coated with a substance that prevents the glass from sticking to it. A pick made of tungsten allows holes to be bored in beads and a reamer made of graphite is used to enlarge them. A kiln is necessary for annealing the beads.
It is important for a lampworker to introduce a glass rod slowly into the flame so as not to break it. The mandrel is dipped into a releaser so molten glass does not stick to it. It is heated and rotated while the molten glass is wound onto it, forming the base for the bead. The combination of the heat, gravity and use of several tools go into creating the shape of beads.
A combination of heat, tools and gravity are used for shaping of the beads. They can then be decorated using various different techniques and materials. Fibers of glass may be melted onto the surface. Copper, silver or gold may be applied in the form of metal leaf, wire or mesh. When colors with a silver base are used, a technique called striking has to be used.
There are also techniques used for working with the beads once they have cooled. They may be etched with acid for a matte finish, sandblasted, faceted with grinders and polished or even painted. These techniques offer a whole range of creative possibilities. Annealing is a process of cooling down glass at the correct temperature. If it is cooled down too slowly, glass has stress and it can crack immediately, after a month or even after a few years. Mass produced glass objects may not be subjected to proper annealing and some are not annealed at all.
Beads created one by one in this manner may be expensive but the quality is far superior to any mass produced product. Mass produced items are often not cleaned properly with releasing agent left in a holes and releasing hazardous dust. They may not be properly finished, leaving rough edges on holes so that stringing material is easily cut through. Quality beads create quality jewelry that can be sold at a higher price.
Many of them prefer to work from their home studios where they painstakingly produce their unique creations. They are made one at a time using different colors, styles and techniques. Some have created their own recognizable style through many years of working with beads. They are so devoted to producing quality products that they have no hesitation in offering guarantees to customers.
They use many different types of glass but the most commonly used are soft soda-lime glass and hard borosilicate. Borosilicate does not crack easily and is more forgiving but it requires a higher temperature and therefore use of larger torches and oxygen instead of air. It is also more expensive and a smaller range of colors are available.
Unlike glass blowers who require a furnace, these artisans use torches. A torch may be attached to a bench for a more stationary flame whilst a hand held one offers heat that can be maneuvered. A wire called a mandrel is used and it is coated with a substance that prevents the glass from sticking to it. A pick made of tungsten allows holes to be bored in beads and a reamer made of graphite is used to enlarge them. A kiln is necessary for annealing the beads.
It is important for a lampworker to introduce a glass rod slowly into the flame so as not to break it. The mandrel is dipped into a releaser so molten glass does not stick to it. It is heated and rotated while the molten glass is wound onto it, forming the base for the bead. The combination of the heat, gravity and use of several tools go into creating the shape of beads.
A combination of heat, tools and gravity are used for shaping of the beads. They can then be decorated using various different techniques and materials. Fibers of glass may be melted onto the surface. Copper, silver or gold may be applied in the form of metal leaf, wire or mesh. When colors with a silver base are used, a technique called striking has to be used.
There are also techniques used for working with the beads once they have cooled. They may be etched with acid for a matte finish, sandblasted, faceted with grinders and polished or even painted. These techniques offer a whole range of creative possibilities. Annealing is a process of cooling down glass at the correct temperature. If it is cooled down too slowly, glass has stress and it can crack immediately, after a month or even after a few years. Mass produced glass objects may not be subjected to proper annealing and some are not annealed at all.
Beads created one by one in this manner may be expensive but the quality is far superior to any mass produced product. Mass produced items are often not cleaned properly with releasing agent left in a holes and releasing hazardous dust. They may not be properly finished, leaving rough edges on holes so that stringing material is easily cut through. Quality beads create quality jewelry that can be sold at a higher price.
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