What are Lampwork Beads?
Lampwork Beads are handmade glass beads. These special beads are crafted using a centuries-old process called lampworking. Rods of colorful glass are melted in a special torch and the molten glass is then wound around a steel rod, forming a basic bead. The hot bead can then be embellished using a variety of techniques and materials, creating unique and one-of-a-kind beads. The term “lampwork” refers to the source used to heat the glass. In the old days oil lamps were used as the heat source, thus the term “Lampwork”. *ANNEALED: To prevent stress and cracks, beads are cooled in a kiln, where temperatures can be closely regulated. The beadmaker “soaks” the beads at a high temperature to make sure that all glass within them is evenly heated, then takes several hours to slowly reduce the heat to bring beads to room temperature. The process is called kiln annealing. Annealing makes the beads strong and durable.
