The Materials & Process
Dichroic Glass
First developed over 100 years ago, NASA recently perfected dichroic glass for use as a filter on the windows of the space shuttles to protect space instruments and human vision from the unfiltered sunlight in space.
Dichroic (from Greek) means two colors (Di-Chros). Various metals including gold, silver, titanium, and magnesium, are layered (each about one-millionth of an inch thick) to produce different colors and effects.
The resulting glass has the unusual property of reflecting one color (when placed against a dark background), while transmitting another color (when held up to the light). Dichroic glass has a shimmering effect similar to the iridescence observed in an opal; different colors can be viewed by examining it at different angles.
The colors are brilliant, saturated wavelengths of light, with shifting chameleon-like patterns, making it an exciting addition to Linda’s art jewelry.
All glass jewelry is designed, cut, assembled and kiln-fired by the artist resulting in a one-of-a-kind piece of soon to be wearable art that her customers will not see anywhere else.
Quality Findings UsedAll wire-wrapped jewelry (glass and lapidary) are designed and executed by the artist using either sterling silver or gold-filled wire. All bracelet or earring findings are Fine Silver, Sterling Silver, or Gold-Filled. Earring wires are either Sterling Silver, Gold-filled, or anodized niobium (hypoallergenic). The bails glued to the fused glass pendants are either gold plated, or silver-plated. |
LapidarySemi-precious faceted stone, such as citrine, topaz, amethyst, and garnet are used in wire-wrapped pendants. Hand cut and polished larimar, chalcedony, jaspers, lapis, malachite, charoite, and other high-end minerals are the most frequently used stones for my wire wrapping. If you don’t see it listed, please ask, as I have a huge inventory of cut and polished stones, allowing for a full-range of color selection and personal preferences. |
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The Glass Fusing Process
• To create the final product, the glass is first cut into small pieces to be combined into a pendant, earrings, bracelet links, or some other form of distinctive glass art jewelry.
• The pieces are assembled and layered to create the visualized design, loaded on kiln shelves (see photo) and into the kiln.
• After a slow fire to a fusing temperature of about 1450 degrees, they are gradually cooled to room temperature (taking about 12 hours from start to finish).
• The jewelry piece may then be wire wrapped, or may be combined with findings to make pendants, earrings, bracelets, etc.
• Using lapidary polishing equipment, some pieces may be further formed or cut into unique shapes and then returned to the kiln for a "fire-polishing" process at a lower temperature in order to smooth the cut edges.
• All finished jewelry (except earrings - due to their smaller size) are photographed, and then engraved with a unique number. This refers to detailed records and photos kept by the artist, so similar future pieces may be made (such as matching earrings.)
• Only the top quality glass is used. Art glass (solid colors) is either Bullseye Glass or Uroboros Glass combined with dichroic from Coatings by Sandberg.