An Afternoon with
Floor Kaspers
Lampwork Beads from Indonesia
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Floor Kaspers, a Dutch bead researcher and glass artist, will take us along on her trip to Java, Indonesia. Here, glass beads are made with minimal means, but with impressive results. Watch glass rods being pulled from a cooking wok, window panes being made into tiny seed beads and impressive murrine being made.
Floor Kaspers met with Indonesian beadmakers in two places on Java: Jombang and Jember, shared ideas and techniques and learnt a few things herself. Get an idea of what beadmaking that is so familiar to all of us looks like from a very different perspective.
After the Demo Update!
(If you missed it, remember that members can watch the recorded demo on the Facebook Members’ Page, check it out! And if you aren’t a member but would like to be, visit the Membership page)
Floor Kasper is a glass artist, bead worker, ISGB Board Member, and world traveler – in addition to her actual job! During this presentation, Floor told us about her travels to Eastern Java in Indonesia. She made the trip to learn more about lampworkers in other parts of the world and how they make their glass beads. Floor visited Jombang and Jember areas and was able to visit and observe lampworkers in both places and gave it a go herself using their fire and tools!
It was very interesting to see how methods from various areas differ in so many ways from what lampworkers in the US and other countries perceive as the correct method. For example, at one location she visited, Floor took photos of piles of broken glass dishes waiting to be turned into beads. Colorants would sometimes be added when they would melt the glass dishes down in a large wok, to then be pulled into long rods of cane. We saw very old beads in different styles as well as examples of replicas of that type of bead being made today.
Floor showed us some of the equipment the lampworkers used in their workshops, and it was quite different from the equipment that most of us use in our studios. The work practices also differ in many ways, and some of our “rules” are not the same as those in the workshops where Floor visited. The lampworkers in Indonesia have found ways to make their practices work though, and to make beads strong and sturdy. It was wonderful to see how lampwork is done in a place most of us would never be able to see in person.
Floor, thank you for this wonderful peek into the world of Indonesian lampwork!
Visit Floor’s websites to see more of her work with the history of beads, and learn more about her own work!
If you would like to show some appreciation for her generosity in sharing her skills with us, you can send Floor something for her tip jar (any amount, large or small is welcome.)
Dragon members have access to this recorded presentation, found on our Facebook Members Group.