Lampwork Glass Beads - Have You Ever Wondered Why Handmade Artisan Beads Are Expensive?

There are many unique factors affecting the pricepainting, one can mix white with red and get pink.
of artisan lampwork beads. This article givesMixing a white glass and a red glass will not make
insights from a lampworker's perspective to helpa pretty pink glass. It is necessary to learn the
the buyer understand the basic costs of making achemistry as well as the mineral equations in
handmade bead.mixing glass. Making glass colors is a
First, lampwork glass is expensive. Why? Theretime-consuming procedure that is done mostly by
are only a handful of glass manufacturers in theadvanced lampworkers with chemistry
world controlling the price of glass. The majorbackgrounds and who enjoy this aspect of glass.
companies are located in Italy, Germany, India,The average lampworker, due to lack of time or
Japan, Czech Republic overseas and Bullseye andexpertise, will buy each color of glass, including
Spectrum in the USA. Glass from other countrieslighter and darker shades of a single color.
incurs a hefty import tax compounded by the riseThirdly, equipment and tools are expensive.
of oil prices. Since lampwork glass is a specialtyWorking in molten glass requires special equipment
niche, production lines are small, causing glassand tools that command a high price due to the
prices to remain high.scarcity of availability. Only in recent years, as
Secondly, a startup inventory of glass can be inworking lampworkers develop tools out of
the hundreds and easily escalate into thenecessity and self-produced them, is expensive
thousands of dollars. Italy's Effetre glass line hasequipment even available. A constant expense for
over 100 colors to accommodate the colorworking beadmakers is oxygen usage. Most will
ranges. Most lampworkers will work with glassuse a large oxygen tank every 3 days and with a
from many manufacturers as long as the glass ishefty $25 price tag per tank, oxygen alone can
compatible. Effetre and Bullseye are notcost $200 a month. A newer method of creating
compatible but both offer unique qualities that areoxygen with oxygen concentrators has become
desirable. If a lampworker wants to work in both,popular. The initial investment is in the thousands,
a complete line would need to be bought in bothbut if the lampworker is serious about a career,
glasses. Glass prices start at $6.00 a pound for athis has become a sound investment.
basic color, custom colors cost in the $30+ rangeLampworking is an expensive endeavor in all
and silvered glasses top in at $100.00 a pound. Aareas. It requires an abundant learning zeal, a deep
pound can be only 8-10, 20" rods, a quantitypocket for expenses and a willingness to
quickly used up with any experimenting.persevere into a field that is little understood.
Compound the necessity of buying large quantitiesBecause artisan glass beads are new to the art
of glass with the high cost of glass and you canworld, recognition and appreciation is slowly being
see how quickly money is spent on supplies.gained through education. It is the passion of the
Why not mix the glass colors? Mixing colors inlampworker for the love of glass that sustains
glass is based on chemical reactions while makingthe drive to make a career from lampworking.
the glass. With pigmented based colors, like in