Set of six red Bohemian crystal glasses, made in the 1960s

Ø cm 9 h cm 20

The Bohemian crystal is a decorative glass produced since the 18th century in Bohemia. This land is famous for the production of colored glass objects thanks to the abundant natural resources present in the area. Bohemian glassmakers discovered that by mixing potassium chloride and chalk, a clear colorless glass was obtained. Tin Bohemia began to produce expert craftsmen capable of artfully working the crystal which became famous for its excellent cut.  

Vases were produced in either a single opaque or two-tone color. The artefacts were decorated with finely glazed floral subjects, others were decorated with colored lithographic prints. 

Bohemian crystal differs from normal glass in terms of quantityhas of lead, as it makes the glass more elastic, soft and easy to work with. The very high percentage of lead makes Bohemian Crystal particularly heavy and allows light to refract in an absolutely unique way. 

The wonder of Bohemian crystal is enhanced in an intoxicating play of colors and reflections with lamps and chandeliers. Their characteristic is that they are made entirely of glass and have pendants of various shapes. Each element is handmade by master glassmakers. 

If you want to obtain small objects, it is usual to resort to the blowing method, divided into two techniques, that of free blowing or that in the mold. In both cases it is a matter of bringing the glass to the melting point. 

One processing technique is the cylinder one; consists of rotating a quantityhas of pasta, untile you will obtain a cylinder approximately 50 cm long, the two ends of which will be cuthas. It is then engraved using the tip of a diamond, and then transferred to an oven. Yes aprand like a book, so as to obtain a plate. Once heated again, it must be worked to give it the desired shape. 

You can also add feet or a pedestal to the object. A further processing technique is the mechanical one, to be carried out with the aid of machines or with the manual intervention of the craftsman in some particular phases.