The Process

Lampwork is a name for an ancient style of glasswork. Before today's modern torches, the flame of an oil lamp was stoked with air bellows to focus heat and melt glass. Glass held in the open flame is shaped into small objects such as marbles and sculptures, or wound around a rod to create beads. The 1st lampworked beads are dated roughly to the 5th century bc. One can date it further back to being ‘well established’ in Egyptian times if the definition is broadened to a small unstoked open flame over which glass is worked. The earliest glass objects were for royalty. Egyptians created feathered patterns (called fenicio in Italy) by dragging across lines of different colors with a tool. Lampwork artists take pride in the art forms rich history and continue to use many ancient techniques to this day. Gas torches with specialized burner heads have replaced the oil lamps of old but the fascination that accompanies the melting of glass remains and the name "Lampworking" is a reminder that this highly refined craft is almost as old as civilization itself.

Annealing

Annealing involves warming the glass up to a temperature just below the working range. At this temperature, the glass softens very slightly - enough for excess stresses to be released slowly, but not enough for the glass to begin to droop under gravity. After soaking at this temperature, the glass is allowed to cool slowly. The rate of cooling is controlled so the entire piece, both thick and thin portions, is always at the same temperature, preventing new stresses from forming.

Borosilicate Glass

A recipe for Borosilicate Glass was developed in Germany in the late 17th century. The glass itself is more stable and much harder in character than the more commonly used “soft-glass”. It is colored with metals, often silver, and requires a hotter flame. Ms. Wayne presses molten glass into 'frit' (crushed glass) to decorate her borosilicate pieces and uses the chemistry of the flame to finesse her colors.

Morretti Glass

Moretti Glass, now commonly known as Effettre, is manufactured in Venice, Italy on the island of Murano by Effettre Moretti Industrial. The Moretti family is the oldest, most prestigious glassmaking family in Italy today. Moretti Glass is provided to lampwork artists in the shape of glass rods in a gorgeous array of colors. The rods are evenly spun in the flame which helps distribute the heat. Ms. Wayne incorporates special, hand-pulled blends to add to the unique quality of each piece.

The Island of Murano

Lampwork artists appreciate the long tradition of Venetian glass manufacturing. The island of Murano was officially designated as an industrial center for glass work in AD 1291 due to the fire hazard glass work posed to the mostly wood constructed Venice. A close relationship between artists, glass manufacturers, and merchants enabled Venice to become a world leader in the glass arts since the 1500’s. Many of the recipes, processes, and raw materials used to create Moretti glass rods are closely guarded secrets handed down over generations.  Colors found in Ms. Wayne's jewelry are as intense today as they were when they were originally formulated hundreds of years ago.

Murrine Glass

These complex designs are constructed by bundling several colored glass rods together into canes, which create the desired patterns in cross section. After heating and fusing the glass rods together, a cane is stretched and its pattern miniaturized. The cane is sliced, applied to molten glass, and sometimes encased in clear glass which acts as a magnifier.