Lampworking was very popular in Italy in the 1300s. It differed from glass blowing in that glass was heated over small oil burning lamps instead of in a furnace. This art form eventually found its way all around the world. Today there are many lampwork bead artists who sell their amazing products at online stores.
The beads produced by these lampworkers are often quite unique. Each item is crafted individually using different color combinations, techniques and styles. They take great pride in their work and are usually prepared to give guarantees of quality to buyers. Some have developed a particular, well recognizable style from many years of experimenting with making beads.
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.
This glass comes in rods and a hand held torch is used to melt it. Another torch may also be attached to a bench for a stationary flame. The molten glass is wound onto a stainless wire called a mandrel. A pick, graphite paddles and tweezers are just some of the tools used for shaping the beads and making the holes. A kiln is needed to anneal the glass.
A glass rod has to be slowly introduced to a flame so that it does not crack due to thermal shock. The mandrel is coated with a releaser like boron nitride so that the final product is easily removed. Both the glass rod and the mandrel are heated and the mandrel is rotated so as to wind the molten glass onto it.
Decorating and embellishing of the beads comes next with many different materials and techniques used for this. Gold, silver and other metals may be applied in forms such as metal leaf, mesh or wire. A technique called striking is used to apply colors with a silver base. The surface may have fibers of glass melted onto it.
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.
The beads produced by these artisan lampworkers are quality items that have been cleaned, annealed and finished off properly, unlike many mass produced products. These products often still have remnants of releasing agents producing a hazardous dust and the holes are roughly finished. The beads made by an artist are more costly but they are well worth the extra price and the jewelry made from these beads is worth more.
The beads produced by these lampworkers are often quite unique. Each item is crafted individually using different color combinations, techniques and styles. They take great pride in their work and are usually prepared to give guarantees of quality to buyers. Some have developed a particular, well recognizable style from many years of experimenting with making beads.
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.
This glass comes in rods and a hand held torch is used to melt it. Another torch may also be attached to a bench for a stationary flame. The molten glass is wound onto a stainless wire called a mandrel. A pick, graphite paddles and tweezers are just some of the tools used for shaping the beads and making the holes. A kiln is needed to anneal the glass.
A glass rod has to be slowly introduced to a flame so that it does not crack due to thermal shock. The mandrel is coated with a releaser like boron nitride so that the final product is easily removed. Both the glass rod and the mandrel are heated and the mandrel is rotated so as to wind the molten glass onto it.
Decorating and embellishing of the beads comes next with many different materials and techniques used for this. Gold, silver and other metals may be applied in forms such as metal leaf, mesh or wire. A technique called striking is used to apply colors with a silver base. The surface may have fibers of glass melted onto it.
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.
The beads produced by these artisan lampworkers are quality items that have been cleaned, annealed and finished off properly, unlike many mass produced products. These products often still have remnants of releasing agents producing a hazardous dust and the holes are roughly finished. The beads made by an artist are more costly but they are well worth the extra price and the jewelry made from these beads is worth more.
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