GlassOtica.com
Title
Glassotica - Lampwork Bead Jewelry and Glass Gifts
Description
Welcome to Glassotica.com! Take some time to explore Glassotica to find original necklace, bracelet and earring designs that have been created with hand-crafted, lampworked glass beads. Designs are always changing so visit the New Designs page to see what's new.
What is Lampworking?
The art of lampworking glass has been around for many centuries. When first practiced, wax or oil lamps were used to melt small amounts of glass into beads and other small artful objects. Modern day Lampworkers use specialized gas powered torches to produce a flame that is over 1700 degrees!
Individual colored glass rods are used to create the colors and designs that you see in lampworked glass beads. There are several manufacturers of glass rods from a handful of countries. Not all glass is compatible because of its individual coefficient of expansion (COE), which is the rate in which the glass contracts when its cooling. Using glass with different COE's to create a bead will produce stress cracks when the bead has cooled to room temperature.
