Formed of Fire: Selections in Contemporary Lampworked Glass

Formed of Fire begins with a foreword by Tina Oldknow, Curator of Modern Glass at the Corning Museum. There follows a brief historical introduction, which then gives context to the artist pages that fill most of the volume. One or two pages per artist display work with descriptive text and a commentary by either the author or by the artist him- or herself. Dunham's position as a respected colleague of the featured artists gives him a distinct perspective on the subject as well as unique access to the artists and their process. Several of the lampworkers allowed themselves to be photographed while executing a piece, and the sequence of photos illustrating their creative process adds to the reader's understanding and appreciation of the work shown. An illustrated glossary of lampworking terminology concludes the text, making this a valuable reference for anyone interested in lampworked glass.

Over 75 artists are represented in full color throughout the book. They include some of the most respected figures working in the field: Shane Fero, Kazuyo Hashimoto, Dina Hulet, Kristina Logan, Robert Mickelsen, William Morris, Roger Parramore, Sally Prasch, Ginny Ruffner, Paul Stankard, Césare Toffolo, Gianni Toso and many others.

The author, Bandhu Dunham, has been a lampworker for over 40 years, and has taught lampwork technique all across the United States and internationally. His work is in the permanent collection of several museums, and he is the author of the how-to text, Contemporary Lampworking: A Practical Guide to Shaping Glass in the Flame. This two-volume text, now in its third edition, is universally regarded as an invaluable resource for both novices and veterans in the field. The book, Formed of Fire, is equally ambitious and definitive.