We take pride in using authentic Lampwork glass beads imported from overseas. Unlike other products that are made of inferior quality and materials such as plastic, acrylic or resin, our glass beads are individually handmade by skilled flame workers. Even though these beads are glass, they are very strong and durable, due to a multi step process our skilled flame workers use. A pivotal step to insure a durable bead is a term called annealing. When a glass bead is kiln annealed it is slowly cooled in order to toughen and reduce brittleness, making the glass sturdy and much less likely to break. Please note that due to the fact these beads are handmade, there may be slight size and color variations.
The evil eye bead - are made by using lampwork techniques.
Bead-making was originally an ancient process which used wax or oil lamps to melt glass... hence the name "Lampworking". Blow tubes and hand bellows were utilized to supply air to the flame and eventually foot operated pumps and bellows took their place to supply even more air to make the flame hotter. Today's bead artist has replaced the oil lamp with a natural gas or propane and oxygen torch, designed to be hand held or mounted to a table. Much hotter flames are now attainable opening up the art to much greater creative possibilities, and with many more different types of glass. Each bead is created from the inside out, by first carefully heating the colored glass rods to temperatures up to 1700 degrees. The molten glass is wrapped around a steel rod called a mandrel. Multiple colors may be added to achieve different visual effects. The beads are formed, manipulated, and decorated in the flame. Then they're placed in a high temperature digitally controlled kiln to anneal and subsequently cool slowly for many hours to ensure strength and longevity.
The first book on glass making was published in the 17th century by a Florentine glassmaker named Antonio Neri. Beads then became relatively cheap to produce and were oftentimes carried as ballast in the trade ships of early sea-goers as well as used as currency at their destination. Glass beads became such an important medium of exchange in ancient times that the techniques of flameworking glass quickly spread across the world... Beads were exchanged for furs, tobacco and sugar in the Americas, and for slaves, ivory and gold in Africa. During the mid-19th century, lampwork techniques flourished in France, and by the end of the 20th century and in recent years, lampwork beads have become one of the jewelry designers' preferred media.
Our specialty is our exquisite collection of handmade glass beads, commonly known as lampwork beads. Our bracelets, accessories and many other items are all made with quality materials. All of our kiln annealed lampwork beads are handmade by individual glass artists who have mastered the technique of creating these beautiful beads by melting glass rods under the flame of an open torch. Since all of our lampwork beads are made by hand, no two pieces are ever perfectly identical, each is a true work of art.
