Early history of lampwork - Some facts, findings and theories Part 2. Fire or flame? Lampworking techniques in antiquity

Abstract

Numerous early glass artifacts show typical features of lampwork. However, with the exception of few examples, it is impossible that true lampworking has been employed. The manufacturing method of these artifacts can only be explained by a related technique: open-fire working of glass. A surprising result of this study is that the open-fire working of glass seems to have been used generally as glass manufacturing method up to the time of glass blowing. Tiny multicolored-decorated beads are evidence of lampwork in the Early Iron Age. Several examples of blown vessels from Roman times show that a single pointed hot flame had been used during the manufacturing process at the furnace.