Colorful crystal - a rainbow in the glass

Crystal products appeared many thousands of years ago. Confirmation of this - the fragments of glass found during archaeological excavations. Found vases from colored crystal belong to the times of antiquity. The crystal products were also used by the Romans. These were seals, vessels, ornaments.

Czech or colored crystal for more than one century pleases man. He appeared in Bohemia, a place that eventually became the Czech Republic, little is known about it. What was the life of its inhabitants, how much it existed - we do not know. It is known from the lessons of history that before it became the Czech Republic, it existed under the name of Bohemia.

Color crystal, glass pearl

Another thing - bohemian glass. This name has survived to this day. Famous products from Bohemian glass became famous throughout the world. It is a durable material, besides beautiful. Its main feature is incredible transfusion paints that play under the rays of light, turning into fairy-tale silhouettes.

In all parts of the world, it is valued higher than any other glass. The first glass blowers, who mastered the technique of creating Bohemian glass, were Czechs. Therefore, it is called - Czech colored crystal.

Crystal is a luxury item

Previously, products from Bohemian crystal could not afford to buy not all. He was considered a luxury item. Only noblemen and rich people bought crystal glass. A commoner has to have something from Czech glass was not possible.

And since the end of the 12th century, everything has changed. The Czech Republic is becoming an economically developed country, the glass manufacturing industry is developing. Since the early 90-ies of the XVI century there are whole glass blowing shops. And very soon the colored crystal became accessible to ordinary people.

Varieties of Czech crystal

In fact, it is worth noting that there are several types of crystal. This crystal is natural and industrial, created by people. To date, there are 4 types of crystal:

1. Mountain (this is a natural material).
2. Barium.
3. Lead.
4. Calcium-potassium.

Industrial colored crystal is created by fusing lead oxide with silica, combining sodium, potassium and other additional oxides.

This technology of making crystal is considered the most difficult and very dangerous. Non-observance of norms and specifications can have a sad outcome.

When crystal is made with lead and barium, a very high temperature, reaching 1500 degrees, is needed. In this case, different additives and quartz sand are used. With their help, the strongest crystal is created.

Unique glass carving

Color crystal "Bohemia" is famous for its special carving on glass, the founders of which were ancient Romans. Such carvings in ancient times were decorated with different vessels. Later, this technique was used in the manufacture of glass products.

The court jeweler of Emperor Rudolph II became the first who began to widely use the ancient technique in creating glassware, thereby glorifying himself and glass to the whole world. He used his own special method for this. These are glass faceted products with fine engraving, diamond faces and puncturing.

Since that time, a new era of glassblowing has begun. A unique, distinctive style in the art of cutting Bohemian glass was scattered all over the world. Products from Czech crystal have gained incredible popularity in Europe. And soon the production flooded the entire market in the Middle East.

All products of Czech masters differed from the products of other craftsmen. Struck by colored crystal, above all, a unique aesthetic beauty. The first to buy Czech glass was the Ottoman Sultans.

However, in the VI century, Czech glass was not yet the crystal that is now. So it was until the end of 1676, that is until the moment when one glassblower, a Briton by nationality, tried to add lead oxide to the composition of the Bohemian glass. Mystery Raivenscroft tried many methods.

He sought to create a strong and, at the same time, a beautiful glass. A special place among the experiments was taken by diamond imitation. She made the glass a beautiful, sonorous and durable material.

With the advent of such glass, the first crystal appeared. It was different from all other types of brilliance and incredibly beautiful sound. Later, the Czech glassblower Müller began to use the achievements of Rivenscroft, after which in the middle of 1684 there appeared a colored crystal, exactly the one we know it. Nowadays in the Czech Republic, two methods of glass production are used:

1. Bohemian glass.
2. Painted glass.

Secrets of Czech crystal

The mystery of its creation goes back to the ages. In the creation of the Bohemian glass only old technologies of its manufacture are used. Thanks to them, after hardening it becomes clean, durable, with a special shine.

Crystal becomes so as a result of the work of carvers and grinders. At the same time, all the work is done exclusively by hand, which makes the glass sparkle on a par with diamonds.