Contemporary
Lampworking: A Practical Guide to Shaping Glass in the Flame (2 Vol.
Set) -
by Bandhu Scott Dunham
Arguably one of the best contemporary lampwork
artists
in the world, Dunham covers all aspects of working glass with a torch
in this 2-volume set. When you're shopping, try to get the most recent
edition you can, but know that even the earlier books will give you a
wealth of useful information.
Glassblowing:
An Introduction to Artistic and Scientific Flameworking
-
by Edward Carberry
Carberry took his years of experience as a
scientific
glassblower and wrote one of the first of the modern lampwork how-to
books. Available in many different editions and filled with sound,
easy-to-follow instructions.
Glassblowing:
An Introduction to Solid and Blown Glass Sculpturing
-
by Homer Hoyt
Hoyt is another longtime lampworker. Well-written
and
illustrated, his books have been updated several times over the years.
They're all good.
Advanced
Flameworking
- by
Milon Townsend
Townsend has been working with and teaching other how to work with
glass for many years. In his own work he uses a variety of techniques,
including lampwork, kiln casting and Italian glassblowing methods. This
is one of several books he has writtten about glassworking. While
you're at it, look for his glassworking videos as well.
Flameworking:
Creating Glass Beads, Sculptures & Functional Objects
- by Elizabeth Mears
"You can easily form beads, candlesticks, and art
objects from just a rod of cold glass and a torch. Heat it, manipulate
it a bit, and almost instantaneously beautiful and new figures emerge
from the fire. That's flameworking. A top teacher of the craft explains
how to do it all, providing exactly the same information and exercises
she gives her beginner's workshops."
Creative
Glass Blowing by James E. Hammesfahr, Clair L. Stong
"Here is the first comprehensive and detailed
introduction to the practice of glass blowing...
In clear, concise language the authors explain,
step by
step, how to perform the basic operations of glass blowing, from
rounding a sharp edge and joining glass parts to blowing bulbs.
Throughout the book, exercises provide practice in applying the basic
operations in selected combinations to make complex structures.
More than 150 illustrations, comprising line
drawings,
photographs, and nine full-color plates, help the reader visualize the
procedures and the finished products of glass blowing.
Useful as a text in formal courses in glass
blowing, the
book will also serve as an introduction for the layman to an engrossing
and satisfying hobby and as a guide for the scientist or science
student who needs to improvise or repair equipment."
Glass:
Philosophy and Method: Hand-blown, Sculptured, Colored
- by John Burton
I love this book! The first modern book on
creative
lampworking. Includes lots of funky little weird-looking glasswork. But
the techniques (including making your own colors) are all here.
Laboratory
Glassblowing
Glassblowing
for Laboratory Technicians
Scientific
Glassblowing
- by E.L. Wheeler
First published in 1958, this definitive volume is
still
used as a textbook in high school and college classes. Get a copy for
your reference library.
Techniques
of Glass Manipulation in Scientific Research
- by Julius
D. Heldman, Ph.D.
"This book is designed for the technician, the
chemist, the biologist, the physicist, and all others who at some time
find it desirable to repair breaks in glass apparatus or to fabricate
not-too-complicated pieces of glass equipment...
The fundamental operations are given extra
emphasis, for two reasons:
A glossary of terms has been included, so that the
proper technical terms used in the book may be at once referred to and
understood...
The basic principles of metal-to-glass sealing are
also heavily stressed..."
Glass
Blowing
- by Carleton Lynde - Originally published as "Experimental Glass
Blowing for Boys" by the A.C. Gilbert company for inclusion in one of
their scientific experimenting sets. The booklet includes 80
"experiments" that teach the basics of lampwork.
You can find our
own reprint edition offered here.
the
Starving Artist's guide to Glass Blowing - This is our first e-print™
digital publication, a PDF format eBook that you
can instantly download and read right on your computer.
Originally written and self-published in 1963 by
Joseph
Payer, this little book will teach you the basic techniques of
lampwork, using tools and materials you probably already have around
the house.
Find
out more, and buy your own copy of 'the Starving Artist's
guide' here.
Get the Starving Artist's Lampwork Project book - Check out our newest e-print™
digital publication, ready for download.
Get step-by-step illustrated instructions for 18
different Lampworked Glass Projects. Includes a review of lampworking
techniques and a lampwork resource guide with books, magazines, sources
of supply and more.
Check out the 'Lampwork Project Book' here.
The
Complete Handbook of Lamp Glass Art
-
by Nadine H Roberts
After a basic description of the lampwork process
and
how to set up your workspace, this book gives step-by-step instruction
for dozens of lampworked glass items. It's geared more to the kind of
stuff you see at the state fair and illustrated with simple
line
drawings, but you're still likely to learn something from it.
Flameworking:
Glassmaking for the Craftsman
Early
Glass of the Ancient World: 1600 B.C.-A. D. 50
In addition to wonderful photographs of ancient
glass
examples from the Corning Museum, this huge book includes a section
detailing modern attempts to duplicate the original works, including
coreforming techniques.
Early
Ancient Glass: Core Formed, Rod-Formed, and Cast Vessels and Objects
from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Roman Empire, 1600 Bc to Ad 50 -
by David Frederick Grose
This attractive (if weighty) tome by a classics
professor at the University of Massachusetts charts the widespread use
of glass in the ancient world, from glass vessels found in Mesopotamia
to glass sculptures, jewelry and household furnishings of early
imperial Rome. The wonder is that all these objects were fashioned
using a variety of techniques (see subtitle) invented before
glassblowing. Including 130 color plates and nearly 1000
black-and-white photos and drawings.
Books about Beads and
Beadmaking have been moved to their own page
Paul
J. Stankard : Homage to Nature by Ulysses Grant
Dietz, John Bigelow Taylor (Photographer)
"Beautiful and informative. Wonderful photographs
of
Paul's lampworked paperweights and detailed photographs of his
techniques. Some artists would hoard their information, but this book
reveals the fine subtleties of torchwork for all to see. All persons
interested in the fine art of lampwork, especially artists and
collectors, should have this book."
Neon
Techniques: Handbook of Neon Sign and Cold-Cathode Lighting (#48)
