What is lampwork?

Lampwork began centuries ago with the use of wax or oil lamps to melt small amounts of glass to create beads, figurines and other novelties.  Nowadays the wax and oil lamps have been replaced by propane or natural gas and oxygen fueled torches.

Rods or tubes of glass are heated in the torch until molten and then wound on a steel rod or mandrels which creates the hole in the bead.  The steel rods are coated in a clay like substance which enables the glass bead to be released from the steel rod once annealed and cooled in the kiln.  Glass is wound on in layers, creating little works of art!  

Once each bead is done being created in the flame they are place into a kiln for a period of time.  This relieves the stress in the glass that is created from the intense heat and manipulation.

Because each bead is created one at at time, no two beads are exactly alike.  Making them unique and magical!