Bohemian crystal - as much in this definition ... It is enough to hear it, and immediately the imagination draws aristocratic devices and the clinking of glasses. What kind of dishes can actually be called a given term and what are its differences from everything else?
History of crystal crafts
It is believed that the modern history of glass in Europe begins in the first half of the seventeenth century. It was at that time, incidentally, that it became known that with a particular treatment option , the glass became transparent. This is how the new quality standard appeared - masters throughout Europe tried to make their products translucent and play in the sunlight. A little later, an original formula was invented, according to which a certain amount of lead oxide was added to the glassmass. The new formulation made it possible to significantly change the characteristics of finished products. Crystal is easier to polish, and when the product is cut, the product becomes more beautiful.
Bohemian crystal: the history of Czech glass blowers
Glass craft is one of the oldest and most respected in Europe crafts. Of course, their masters and workshops were in all European states, but the greatest extent to this art Bohemia and Venice became famous. Murano glass (named in the place of production - the island of Murano) is distinguished for its elegance, transparency and a variety of color effects. All this is the tradition of the masters of Venice in the glass-blowing craft. But already in the XIII century in Bohemia (the historical region of the Czech Republic) there were worthy analogues of Italian glass of local production. Today Bohemian crystal and glass are valued for their extraordinary transparency. But the technology capable of giving this quality to products was first discovered by a master who lived and worked in Bohemia.
Stages of production
Even today, in the age of scientific and technological progress, Bohemian crystal is considered a luxury and an indicator of the owner's special taste. But why is this brand so appreciated? The times when masters were forbidden to tell even to their relatives any facts related to production were over. Today many plants in Bohemia conduct excursions for tourists, we will try and understand how the legendary crystal and glass are made. The first stage of production is the melting of raw materials and the blowing out of the product. Next, the resulting blank is placed in a damp wooden mold. The third stage - one of the most exciting is polishing and cutting on glass. It is important to understand all the subtlety of work: the time during which the material can be processed is too short. Usually, the wizard uses a previously prepared sketch. The next stage is the creation of reliefs and the application of gilding. And in the last turn, the finished product is polished. Bohemian crystal is valued not only for its beauty, but also for its quality. All products are tested and, in the presence of the slightest rejection, are sent not to stores, but to processing. It is worth noting that today glass and crystal in Bohemia are made by hand and on special automated lines in punching technology.
Crystal or glass?
Do you know why this vase is crystal, and the glasses, so similar to it, are glass ones? Than two materials received from one raw material, differ among themselves. It is believed that if in the glass from 6 to 36% of lead oxide, it can be called crystal. The world standard of quality is 24%. It is believed that the higher the percentage of lead, the better the crystal. Elite and high-quality products are in the composition of which this figure exceeds the 30% mark. Bohemian crystal (photo you can see in our article) should not have air bubbles and any other impregnations. The product should be uniformly transparent and sparkling in all places, without opacities.
Quality indicators
How to choose crystal and not make a mistake when buying? The traditional option for checking glass is to gently tap with a pencil or other object around the edge of the glass or salad bowl. The whole and high-quality product will answer you with a pleasant sound. Another option for checking crystal when buying - rub it with a wet finger. An original and high-quality product will make an interesting sound, but ordinary glass and other analogues "keep silent". All the dishes produced in Bohemia have a "corporate" seam - at the base of the stem of the glass. Glasses and vases from Bohemian crystal (for flowers) have such a distinctive feature on the bottom.
How much does such dishes and decorative items cost?
In Soviet times, any crystal was considered a symbol of prosperity, every self-respecting mistress was obliged to have such utensils in her house. All the holidays and solemn events were associated precisely with the melodic chimes of the glasses from this material. And it's not for nothing that crystal is considered a symbol of taste and prosperity: quality and beauty really need to be paid. On average, a set of glasses can be bought for 3000-4000 rubles, and some single piece of medium-sized serving or decorative interior decoration - for 2000-3000 rubles. Of course, we are talking about products of factory production. Hand work is at times more expensive. Crystal dishes do not age, but only get better with the years gone by. Accordingly, an antique antique candy can from Bohemian crystal can cost a fortune. Often, such interior items and dishes are sold at auctions. It turns out that crystal is not only a decoration of the table and interior, but also a valuable investment.