Lampworking is the art of creating objects, in this case beads, from glass rods melted over a flame. The earliest known examples of lampwork beads date back thousands of years, but the technique was really refined in 14th century Murano, Italy. Skilled artisans there used oil or alcohol lamps (hence the name) to melt glass rods and create beautiful beads which were highly valued and much sought-after. The art of lampworking was mainly centered in there until just a few decades ago when artists in Europe, Japan and the USA began to experiment with and develop new techniques and styles Today we use torches instead of lamps, and there are so many gorgeous varieties of glass to work with that the possibilities seem endless.
