By
Patsy Evins

There are important questions that need to be asked before you buy your first lampwork bead. In the bead world there is no regulated consumer protection monitoring the quality of lampwork beads so it is “buyers beware”. Only through self-education can a buyer be assured one is getting a well crafted, quality lampwork bead.

The first question to ask a seller is whether the bead has been annealed? Annealing the bead means that a bead has gone through a process of being placed in a kiln while the bead is hot (about 960º) and the temperature in the kiln is slowly stepped down, usually in increments of 100º per hour until the bead is cool. This process takes 6-10 hours. Why do all this work? As the bead is being formed, the glass is exposed to temperatures of 1500º and higher by the flame of a torch. This process of heating glass to a molten state creates stress in the glass. If this stress is not released the bead will break, some times immediately but it can break a month or even a year later. The stress must be released slowly, which requires a kiln to perform the task.

Every aspect of lampwork is expensive including equipment. The initial money layout for a kiln and digital controller can cost well over a $1000. Many hobby lampworkers are not willing or able to spend thousands of dollars, so as they sell their beads they slowly buy equipment. Torches and glass are always first on the list of must haves with kilns being purchased last.

Fiber blankets and crock-pots with vermiculite are poor substitutes for a kiln to anneal beads. If the beads have been “annealed” in these devices, be aware there is no guarantee that the bead will not crack. Sadly, there is no way to tell visually if the purchased bead has been annealed until it cracks. Even tiny beads will crack. Glass is glass no matter the size, and any stressed glass will follow the laws of Physics and break.

A professional lampworker is one who has purchased all the proper equipment and taken educational classes to make quality beads. It is a sizeable investment of money and time, making it a career commitment for the individual. The hobbyist and professional lampworker will sell beads side by side at craft and bead shows. The hobbyist beads will usually sell at a lower price because of less investment of money for equipment and education, however the commitment to stand behind the lampwork beads is missing.

Lampwork beads are beautiful creations that one can wear or have as a keepsake. To get the best value for the money and buy with confidence requires a buyer educated on the fundamentals of lampworking. The more one learns, the more lampwork beads will be appreciated and highly treasured.

I received a BFA in drawing and painting plus four years in private art institutions. In 1998, I changed my focus from painting to glass. My studies in glass have been extensive with training from leaders in the glass industry. My fine art lampwork beads have been featured in magazines, books and competitions, as well as in art museums and personal art collections. My paintings have been exhibited and sold in Japan, Europe, the Far East, Puerto Rico, and the United States. Visit my Work at https://patsyevinsstudio.com

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