Lampwork beads are handmade glass beads. These special beads are crafted using a centuries old process called lampworking. Rods of colorful glass are melted in a torch and the molten glass is then wound around a steel rod, forming a beautiful bead. Each bead is unique and cannot be recreated, no matter how hard we try. These beads are made with a special glass and some of them are fumed with metals like silver or gold to produce an iridescent sheen.