Examples of twisted
latticino bead used as my inspiration can be seen in The
Glass Beads of Anglo-Saxon England by Margaret
Guido.
copyright 2000, 2001
Jhan A. Knebel
rixende@timelessbeads.com
Twisted
Latticino Bead
Anglo-Saxon Glass Beads
400-700 AD
About the Piece
I challenged myself to make this bead as a recreation of one from Guido's book. However, modern glass has proven to be an obstacle. Due to the colorants in modern green (copper) and yellow (sulfur) glass they react with each other. A thin brown line will form between the two colors of glass, which was not seen in period examples. In my search to recreate this bead I have experimented with specialty glass called Alabastro. While the glass did not react with the brown line, the alabastro's color saturation was too low and thus appears as a transparent glass. I am still experimenting, and have discovered that this bead was also made with a yellow and blue latticino as well.
Production Method
This style of bead is produced by using a hot-head torch and MAPP gas. First a latticino twist must be created to apply to the bead. An opaque yellow and an Alabastro Green glass rod are heated in the flame. Once hot they are attached to each other. Both glass rods are heated together until molten. Once molten they are pulled out of the flame, held for a brief 3- count, and then twisted and pulled in opposite directions. The latticino twist is then removed from the attached rods using disc nippers (tile cutters).
The glass is heated in the flame until molten and applied to a stainless steel mandrel coated in bead release (slip.) The first layer of glass is applied to the mandrel and shaped into a round bead by spinning it in the flame. The latticino twist is then applied to the surface of the bead in two concentric rings. These rings are melted completely into the surface.
The bead is returned to the flame and allowed to return to it's round shape. The beads are placed in a fiber blanket for cooling. They will be annealed once I either purchase or gain access to a kiln. In period, a kiln powered by a wood fire and bellows was used. However, I have not had the location available to build a period kiln.
Resources
Guido, Margaret. The Glass Beads of Anglo-Saxon England. Rochester, New York: The Boydell Press, 1999.