LAMPWORK

Lampworking (also known as flameworking) is a technique used to make glass beads, glass sculptures, vessels, ornaments etc.

Modern lampworkers use a gas torch (either single or dual-fuel) to melt glass rods. As the glass is melted, it is wound around a stainless steel mandrel, which forms the hole. Prior to use, the mandrel must be coated with a substance called bead release in order to prevent the glass fusing to the steel.

Once the base of the glass bead has been wound on to the mandrel, the bead is typically decorated with additional glass or inclusions (silver, gold, palladium or copper leaf, silver or copper wire and mesh, cubic zirconias etc).

Surface glass decorations can include:

• stringer work - thin strands of glass pulled from thicker rods
• twisties – multiple colours of glass twisted together
• frit – crushed glass
• millefiori – thin slices of glass with multi-coloured patterns

Round beads can be shaped simply using gravity but more complex shapes require the use of various tools. Some lampworkers shape their beads by hand while others prefer to use bead presses, which ensure consistent size and shape.

When finished, the bead is put into a kiln and annealed, to ensure strength and durability.