What
is Lampworking?
Are
all the glass beads in Kincaidesigns handmade by the artist?
What
is lampworking and how is a glass bead created?
What
is kiln-annealed?
The
History of Lampworking and Glassblowing
Are
all the glass beads in Kincaidesigns handmade by the artist?
Yes,
all the glass beads used in Kincaidesigns handmade jewelry are handmade
using the lampworking techniques explained below. When the glass
beads are complete and properly kiln annealed, the glass beads are
used in the handmade jewelry along with semi-precious stones, pearls,
swarovski crystals, sterling silver and gold filled materials.
Read more about the artist,
Holly Kincaid...
Read more Frequently Asked Questions about the
handmade jewelry...
What
is lampworking and how is a glass bead created?
Glass
rods are melted and wound on a mandrel using either Moretti (Effetre)
or Bullseye glass, there are other brands of glass, however these
are the two types of glass used in Kincaidesigns handmade jewelry.
This glass comes in long rods and their diameters range, not usually
exceeding a quarter inch for bead making. The glass begins to move
at around 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, and the glass is workable (it
can be shaped or molded) at 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. There are many
different tools used in flameworking, usually made of stainless
steel or graphite. Graphite tools are used because they don't stick
to the hot glass. Stainless steel tools will stick to hot glass
while in the flame or when its at it's hottest temperatures, however,
they are very effective in shaping glass when properly used. Each
of the glass beads are individually flameworked (torch-blown) and
properly kiln-annealed overnight.
Read more Frequently Asked Questions about the
handmade jewelry...
What
is kiln-annealed?
By
annealing the glass beads, they are guaranteed hard as rocks, durable
enough for everyday wear with long lasting heirloom quality. When
a glass bead is finished, the hot bead (while still on the mandrel),
is placed in a kiln heated at 960°F. The annealing process releases
the stress from the glass and slowly cools the beads down to room
temperature. Cooling the glass beads too quickly will cause them
to crack.
Read more Frequently Asked Questions about the
handmade jewelry...
The
History of Lampworking and Glassblowing
While
the age of lampworking is unknown, it was developed well before
the invention of any torch, burner, or furnace. Glassworking was
rumored to have been discovered by someone accidentally dropping
glass into a campfire. From there they used a "small fire"
for any form of glasswork and developed small beehive shaped furnaces
in the ground. These small furnaces have been recorded in many ancient
civilizations and they seem to have dominated glassmaking before
the birth of Christ. These glasswork techniques spread throughout
the ancient world from Japan to North Africa.
The
Romans were known to have used these beehive furnaces or kilns,
and are responsible for making some significant changes to their
design. They were the first to add more exhaust vents and more options
for side access to these kilns. More tools were experimented with
and refined.
Just
before the birth of Christ, someone thought of using a hollow pipe
to extract glass instead of glass rods. It caused a bubble of gathered
glass. While glass beads were still used the old way with rods,
glass blowing dominated the glass forming technique for the next
thousand years. Italians achieved the highest technical achievement
around the world. In 1291, the Italians were sent to Murano (An
island off the mainland of Venice, Italy), due to the fire hazards
of Glasswork.
As
Europe entered the Renaissance, a new use for glass was developed.
Angelo Barovier, working in Murano, invented Crystallo, a clear
soda glass in 1450 AD. There was a new need for clear durable vessels
as chemical science was developing. This was the best glass for
the job. The pipe glassblowing technique wasn't suitable for making
these small objects. It was discovered that forcing a small narrow
stream of air into a flame from an oil lamp created sufficient heat
to work with the small pieces of glass. By the beginning of the
fifteenth century this technique was spread throughout Europe and
Lampworking was born.
Although
the tools continued to become more sophisticated, the basic material,
glass, has remained essentially the same as when Crystallo invented
it. This glass is commonly referred to today at Moretti Glass, or
Effetre.
In
1921, a scientist from the glass factory in Corning, New York, invented
a new glass more resilient when heated and cooled, called Pyrex.
It was 15 percent lighter and much stronger than soda glass. However,
it required a much higher and more powerful heat source to work
with the glass.
It
was found that adding oxygen and natural gas produced the heat and
power needed for pyrex and the traditional oil lamps were replaced
with new oxygen and natural gas burners which clamped to the lampworkers
workbench.
Today,
equipment and tools have continued to become more sophisticated
and new tools are experimented, however, many of the original tools
from Murano are widely used and are still the most effective.
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