Lampwork Beads

The earliest forms of glass beads were dated to be 30,000 years old.  Wearing lampwork beads is a classic and a modern trend as well.

Egyptians notably used glass-like beads made from Egyptian faience beads, a type of clay bead having a self-molding vitreous property.  Lampwork beads are a variant of wound glass beads.  They were typically the works of men since producing them require melting glass at furnace temperatures.  The decorative touch was then added by women, mostly in their homes by employing oil lamps (hence, the name lampwork) to reheat the core in order to decorate them using wisps of glass.

During the 19th century, mass production of lampwork beads became an industry for the Venetians.  The people who worked on lampwork beads were remunerated for their work by the piece. 

Modern lampwork beads

Today's lampwork beads are produced by heating a rod of glass with a gas torch then a resulting thread is spun all over a metal rod enclosed in bead release.  As soon as the base bead has been molded, other glass colors can be added on the surface to create decorative effects.  To achieve durability, the beads may be reheated in a kiln.

Contemporary beadmakers make use of single or double-fuel torches.  Most people in the industry today prefer using a flameworking torch or burner because it produces soot-free flame.  Oxygen and propane (although natural gas are sometimes used) are mixed at the mouth of the torch, which makes it less quiet.  Additionally, the torch is immovable unlike in metalworking, so that the process of moving the bead and glass in the flame is more feasible.

Finding durable and adorable lampwork

Lampwork beads are popular components for pieces of jewelry, be it bracelets, necklaces, etc.  You'll be amazed at the wide array of lampwork beads online.  Their quality depends on the expertise of jewelry artisans.  However, it's not only the style you must consider when finding your own lampwork beaded jewelry. 

It's helpful to ask the following questions before buying a lampwork beaded jewelry: 1) were the beads annealed in a kiln, 2) the track record of the jewelry artisan, 3) has the artisan sold his creation on the Web where customer feedback is available, 4) are the beads being guaranteed by the seller?

Cracking is probably one of the biggest worries for lampwork glass beads especially when the artisan skipped the annealing process in a kiln.  Annealing allows the glass from the outside in to gradually cool down at the same time, reducing the possibility of cracks.  

Also, check the beads as a whole, whether you find them pleasing or you are noticing slight variations.  Variations are normal for handmade lampwork beads (which they mostly are) but so long as you don't notice any trace of untoward appearances, then the lampwork beads are good to go.