“It is only when I know the basics and my limits that I can also take the next step, which is to press through those limits, to extend my vocabulary and my creativity.”

--Klaus Moje

Definition:

Lamp Work is defined as any glass-working technique done with direct flame or torch; Reworking pre-formed glass rods.

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Were so glad you dropped by. If you are looking for instruction in glass, quality beading products, finished lampwork jewelry, lamp work beading accessories and supplies, or you just love online window shopping, than WELCOME. Please feel free to browse my web site. You never know what exciting and unique piece you may find. If you have been here before than you know there is a change. We have reworked the look and feel of the site to reflect our artistic views. Welcome and enjoy!

Our Mission Statement

To provide a venue of self expression in glass artwork and jewelry designs for the hobbyist.

A little History on Lampworking

Beads have been around for a long, long time. They were, and still are, made of wood, shells, bone, ivory, gemstones, glass. They have been used in trade as a form of money for thousands of years. They have been used as a show of wealth in the form of jewelry and as religious objects of rituals. Today beads are still used as a form of adornment!

Working with glass has also got a history that goes just as far back. It was found among the Egyptians that they made vessels using metal rods and dried clay, then melted the glass over them to create a decorative vessel. An interesting tidbit is that it is thought that they may have been the first ones to use wire wrapping techniques for their jewelry.

Making glass beads as an industry seems to have started around 3,000 years ago. Much of this history extends to Venice, Italy. Italy dominated the world by the 15th century in the glass industry. Glassmaking first began as an industry there and it was a very closely guarded secret for many years that was passed down only through the family. Later glass makers were sent to the island of Murano away from the population so their secrets would not be revealed. This effectively kept the price of their beads high. Still today, many of the glass bead makers use is from Italy, where they are still known for their high quality glass. This glass is Effetre, and Murano. The interesting thing is that despite the growth of interest and knowledge of glass bead making, there are still many countries today where glass bead making is a secret and is not taught or openly revealed.

There are many different kinds of glass working, There is lamp working with a flame, kiln forming glass called fusing, cold working glass, such as stained glass, and glass blowing and there are different kinds of glass that are called soft and hard glass. That is where the word co-efficiency comes in. But that is another topic to be discussed later.

In the United States the glass bead industry started its explosion when American lamp workers first came on to the bead making scene about 20 years ago.

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