The
Beauty of Fine Hand Cut Lead Crystal
Lead crystal when properly cut has
the magnificent ability to disperse light into the color components of the visible
spectrum with almost diamond like brilliance. Place a lovely deep cut lead
crystal vase in a sunlit window and watch the magic! The brilliant colors of
refracted sunlight passing through a fine piece of deep cut lead crystal are simply
captivating!
A Brief History of Lead
Crystal
Although cut glass has been around for over 2000
years true lead crystal has only been in existence since the second half of the 17th
century. English glassmaker George Ravenscroft (1618-81) while searching for a way
to improve the luster and clarity of his glassware found that by adding lead oxide to his
molten mixture he could not only improve the clarity (crystal clear) of the glass but
dramatically increase the weight, the index of refraction and the ability to cut the
material without fracturing. The importance of this discovery lead to a booming cut lead
crystal market in Britain that eventually spread throughout Europe and later to America.
In the United States by the late 19th century there
were over 200 cutting houses producing cut lead crystal. American demand for lead
crystal was at its peak. In those days a considerable amount of wealth was required to own
true cut lead crystal. The cost of a craftsman’s labor to produce an intricate
piece was prohibitive to the person of average income.
By the dawn of the 20th century production of
cut lead crystal was slowly declining as lower cost imitation molded and pressed glassware
became routinely produced for the masses. Molded glass cannot compare to real cut
leaded crystal. The lack of, detail, brilliant luster, sharpness and clarity along
with the presence of rough surfaces and mold parting lines in the work are all too easily
detected.
Today the electric powered cutting wheel is much
faster and able to perform much more intricate cuts in the hands of a master cutter than
was its steam driven predecessor of a century ago. The time and labor requirements
to produce a fine piece of intricate cut crystal are still quite considerable. It
may take hours to cut a small piece and several days for larger work. It is for this
reason that there is no mass production of these highly detailed products in the United
States or anywhere else for that matter. Master cutters employed by large
cutting houses usually do not produce numerous elaborate pieces for reasons of economy.
Manufacturing Lead Crystal by the Traditional Method
The traditional method of forming the crystal blank
is done by a highly skilled blower who gathers the molten mixture at the end of an iron
blowpipe and then forms the blank shape purely by means of his skill or by blowing the
“gather” into a rough mold. After cooling, the blank is then ready
to be sketched, cut, polished and decorated in whatever manner the artisan has chosen.
Full lead crystal, which is mouth blown in the
traditional method, may from time to time have a few minor bubbles contained within the
piece. This is generally accepted as a by-product of the traditional process and
does not detract from the piece. On occasion, small, barely perceivable lines may be
detected within a piece of crystal. These represent slight variations in the density
of the molten crystal, which remain after the crystal has cooled. These lines are
called cords and are also considered a by-product of the traditional process.
It should be noted that each piece of true
hand cut lead crystal is a unique product of the individual artisan or artisans who have
produced it. For example within a set of stemware of the same pattern there may be
very slight variations in pattern size and spacing of the elements. This only serves
to embellish the charm and appreciation of such artisanship and is by no means considered
a detriment. Absolute product consistency is only achieved by fully mechanized
production, not by a craftsperson.
Slight variation within a matched set of cut
crystal is the accepted benchmark for handcrafted artisanship. It is comforting to
note that in this age of accelerating technology someone is still practicing traditional,
limited production, hand crafted work.
Our Lead Crystal Product Quality
Rest assured, these are not the factory seconds
that you find in outlet stores but premium quality hand cut crystal from some of the
finest artisans in the world.
For generations Slovakia (formerly the eastern
region of Czechoslovakia) has produced much of the finest cut crystal in the world.
All of our Slovakian crystal comes packaged in beautiful padded and lined presentation
boxes, which makes these heirloom quality creations even more cherished. We are
extremely proud of this entire line of premium quality, fully leaded, hand cut
crystal. Note: Product numbers with an “S” prefix are from Slovakia.
Our Polish and Russian (Belorus) selections
represents classic Victorian style and very high quality, fully leaded hand cut
crystal. If comparable items existed from a name brand crystal house they would
easily fetch over twice the price. We invite you to see for yourself what magnificent
beauty and true artistic mastery are all about! Note: Product numbers
with a "P" are from Poland and products with a "B" prefix are from
Belorus.
Proper Care of Lead Crystal
Full lead crystal is much clearer than common glass
and is somewhat “softer” which makes it easier for the artisan to cut.
This “softness” also makes it easier to unintentionally impart fine scratches
onto the surface of crystal. Crystal should be stored so as to reduce the
possibility of contact with other pieces, which could cause scratching, chipping or other
blemishes to occur.
Care should be taken when cleaning your crystal to
avoid use of harsh detergents, excessive heat (both of which may be found in your
automatic dishwasher) excessive cold, rapid temperature changes and abrasives. It is
very strongly recommended to wash your crystal by hand in warm water with a small amount
of detergent, rinse then dry with a soft cloth. Use of a mechanical dishwasher, with
it’s associated heat and harsh detergents will result in either producing a
“cloudy” etched surface to the crystal or crack the crystal outright.
About Lead
Full lead crystal should not be used for long-term
storage of consumable liquids (fill your decanter with only as much brandy as you will use
over the holidays). The FDA advises consumers not to store alcoholic beverages in
lead crystal decanters. The FDA also advises pregnant women
not to routinely drink from lead crystal glasses.
 |
If you're looking for an Interior
Designer, home decorator, remodeling contractor, Architect or landscape artist - you'll
find a complete directory of professionals waiting to do business with you at TheInteriorDesigner.com.
Also, browse our supplier
exposition area and choose from offerings in over 100 categories of decor,
furnishings, accessories, appliances and plumbing fixtures for the home or office. |
|
