Lampwork Murano Glass Beads
The term lampwork is derived from the Venetian tradition which is known as "a lume" which means at the lamp. Many people do not think of Murano glass beads as lampwork beads, however, lampwork simply means that the beads have been worked over a flame. This has the same technique for thousands of years, only the energy source has changed. All beads made in Venice and Murano are lampwork beads. Venetian beads have been associated largely with the production styles which have been sold for the past thirty to forty years. However, in researching the history of beads, you will find that for centuries, the Muranese and Venetians have been making beads with the dots now associated with lampwork. Check out our Lampwork beads below and make something beautiful.
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Clasically in Murano, the term lampwork is reserved for those workers who make small glass objects, animals, figurines, or even very sophisticated pieces like the famous lampworker Cesare Toffolo, who is known around the world. They do not use mandrels and there are no holes in their artistic products, like the holes in beads. They work only with a cane of glass, or two and magically create the figurine from the end of the cane. When beadmaking became popular in the US, somehow they used the word "lampwork" to include all the beads produced on mandrels and using oxygen. The "lampworker" in Murano is much more respected than a beadmaker. Beadmaking in Murano and in the clasically Venetian method does not use oxygen. It allows us to work at a lower temperature.
