The necklace above includes an openworked bead made on a very large stainless steel rod.  The chain is two strands of spool knitted artists' wire twined together and finished with sterling silver end cones.

Lampwork beads and buttons, wearable art

Lampwork beads are beads built in the flame using molten glass to create color and pattern.  Each bead is wound onto a stainless steel rod--a mandrel--then shaped and decorated.  After the bead is completely finished, it goes into a kiln to "soak" at a very high temperature--968 degrees, which is below melting temperature--so that all the stresses on the glass built up in the winding of hot glass are evened out and the bead becomes stable.  No melting occurs in the kiln.

Durham Arts

Gail Durham

503 644 4488

gdurham@easystreet.net

Portland, Oregon

Also on these pages you will find information about my husband's work.  E. Benno Philippson, a retired architect, leads painting trips to Italy every other year to a wonderful art school called La Romita, located in southern Umbria.  Please see Benno's Pages for more information