Lampwork glass beads are a popular jewelry component and are found in many necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry. Lampworking is done for past hundreds of years to make glass beads, and the quality of any handmade lampwork glass bead depends upon the expertise of its maker. The option of designs in this segment is endless as the maker can create a variety of dots, paterns, feathers, and representational ornamentation out of glass.

Process
There are many different techniques for making modern art glass beads, but lampwork glass beads are truly special. Since glass becomes molten when heated to a certain temperature, glass artists can create any shape as well as layers while holding the glass over a flame or lamp. Surface treatments such as fuming metals, electro-forming, acid etching and the use of enamels are used to alter the appearance of the glass beads.

Popular Forms
Through much time and patience, the bead maker learns the effects of the elements at play to create the design, size and shape of handmade lampwork glass bead that they desire. Many glass artists produce unbelievably complicated beautiful designs. Lampwork glass beads can come with raised decoration, bumps, dots, swirls in another color, sparkle "goldstone" feathering, foil inside, or other applied decoration.