What is fume?
Fume is the result of sublimating of a precious metal, like silver and gold. To do this, a small piece of silver or gold is placed in the bottom of the flame -the tip of the ‘candles’- and brought to a quick boil. The gasses produced by sublimation are sprayed onto the glass, gathering a layer of solidified metal spread. At a molecular level, each metal will affect light in a certain way, creating a unique array of color. Metals reacts differently to flame chemistry and heat environment. I primarily use gold and silver in my work.
An implosion made with gold fume and clear glass.
Gold likes a little more oxygen than propane in the flame; spraying from a light transparent rose color, to deep purple, to metallic gold sheen; depending on the saturation. Gold does not change much from it’s original encasement.
A piece of Canadian river gold.
A honeycomb made using only clear glass and silver fume.
Silver will fume under various flame environments, but the best results often come from a propane rich, low-force, flame. The colors that come from silver can vary from white, to every color of the rainbow; depending on how the artist uses it.
A well fumed piece of Canadian silver, used to create the honeycomb pictured.