lampworking

Lampworking is a glassworking technique in which glass is melted and shaped with a flame from a handheld torch. Most commonly, soft glass or soda-lime glass is used, though borosilicate glass is also employed for its greater resistance to thermal shock. The artist works with glass rods, tubes, or frit, heating the end of the material in a flame until it becomes molten and malleable. The hot glass is manipulated with metal or graphite tools, tweezers, and gravity, often around a mandrel to form beads or small sculptural pieces. After shaping, the piece is annealed in a kiln to relieve internal stresses and then slowly cooled.

Equipment and materials include a gas-powered torch (propane or natural gas with oxygen), a heat-resistant work surface, glass rods and tubes, a mandrel for beads, graphite or steel tools, and an annealing kiln. Safety gear includes eye protection, gloves, and adequate ventilation to control glass fumes and heat.

Techniques center on beadmaking, with methods such as winding, shaping, encasing in clear glass, and applying stringers or frit for decoration. Other forms include sculpted animals, pendants, marbles, and small vessels. Color can be introduced as chips, rods, or powders; encasing involves covering a piece with a transparent layer to enhance depth.

Applications of lampworked glass include jewelry, decorative objects, and collectibles.

History and context: lampworking has ancient roots in beadmaking; modern torch-based lampworking gained prominence in the 20th century with portable torches and improved glass formulations, enabling greater precision and experimentation.