Crystal products have appeared for many millenniaback. 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 is not one century oldpleases the person. 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 anyother 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 couldnot all can be purchased. He was considered a luxury item. Only nobles and rich people bought crystal. The commoner had to have something of 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:
- Mountain (this is a natural material).
- Barium.
- Lead.
- 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 leadand barium, you need a very high temperature, reaching 1500 degrees. Various additives and quartz sand are used. With their help, the strongest crystal is created.
Unique glass carving
Color crystal "Bohemia" is famous for its specialthread on the glass, the founders of which were ancient Romans. Such carvings in the ancient times were decorated with different vessels. Later, this technique began to be used in the manufacture of glass products.
The court jeweler of Emperor Rudolph II becameThe first who began to widely use the ancient technique in creating glass products, thereby glorified 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.
С этого времени началась новая эпоха glass-blowing crafts. 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 fromproducts of other craftsmen. Struck with colored crystal, above all, a unique aesthetic beauty. The first to acquire Czech glass was the Ottoman Sultans.
However, in the VI century Czech glass was not yetcrystal, what 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 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 a glass, the firstcrystal. It was different from all other types of brilliance and incredibly beautiful sound. Later, the Czech glassblower Müller began to use the achievements of Raivenscroft, after which in the middle of 1684 there appeared a colored crystal, just as we know it. Nowadays in the Czech Republic, two methods of glass production are used:
- Bohemian glass.
- 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 production 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 causes the glass to sparkle on a par with diamonds.
