Czech chandeliers are not just glass products. This is already a kind of independent phenomenon, and often a work of art. The secret of such attractiveness lies in the secrets of manufacturing, kept for centuries.
A bit of history
Bohemian glass from the Czech Republic is usually called by the name of one of its provinces. Now the territory of this country has somewhat changed its borders, but the products made on its territory are still called "Bohemian crystal". Although, in fact, crystal lamps, which will be discussed in this article, and other glass products are also produced in other regions of the country.
Around the 16th century, families of glass blowers from Saxony began to migrate en masse to Bohemia. To compete with the works of Roman and Venetian masters, whose beauty and grace had already conquered the whole world, changes were required. Jeweler Kaspar Lehman was the first to start processing crystal using Roman technology and make products with large, wide edges, which absorbed more light, and, accordingly, looked more beautiful.
Another jeweler, Michael Müller, in 1683 changed the formula of the glass itself, adding lead to the raw material. Thanks to this, a material was obtained that resembles natural rock crystal in properties. It was easier for such glass to give the required shape.
Thus, the glass turned into a graceful crystal that adorns the homes of crowned heads and the powerful. In the Czech Republic, it is customary to call crystal products, the raw materials of which contain at least a quarter of lead oxide.
Even with the development of modern technology, Czech manufacturers do not trust the entire production process to machines. Just like many centuries ago, some processes, such as grinding or engraving on parts of products, are done by hand.
Features of the
The first ceiling chandelier appeared in 1724. Josef Palm became its inventor. In those days, only very rich people could afford such a luxury. Today, thanks to the development of technology, the products of Czech craftsmen have become much more affordable.
First of all, they are appreciated, of course, for the unique beauty and grace that distinguish these lamps, and for the inimitable iridescent play on the diamond facets.
This effect is achieved due to the unique composition of the material from which the chandeliers and all spare parts for them are made. The main component of Czech glass is quartz sand. Due to the fact that there is almost no iron in it, all the details are crystal clear. And thanks to a special glass processing technology, the rays of light are refracted in the edges and the chandelier begins to sparkle with a diamond shine. A real Czech chandelier is not just a lighting fixture. This is a sign of delicate taste, wealth and nobility.
How to distinguish real from fake
To avoid disappointment when buying a chandelier, you must follow a few rules:
- During visual inspection, all parts should be free of scratches and other damage, and inside them there should be no voids, bubbles or other imperfections.
- If you look through a crystal piece from a chandelier at any object, the image will be refracted, while it will remain transparent. Glass, on the other hand, displays the object as it is.
- One of the amazing properties of crystal is its ability not to heat up from human touch. Hold the harness in your hand for a few seconds. If you have crystal in front of you, you will feel its pleasant coolness and it will remain so.
- The magic crystal ringing cannot be confused with any other sound. Tap lightly on any of the details with a pencil or stick and listen: the crystal chandelier will sound gentle, melodic and will definitely have a continuation. The glass will have a short rattling sound.
Buy crystal only in trusted places - preferably in specialized stores. Czech manufacturing companies value their name and supply their products with a certificate.
Design features
Originally Czech chandeliers were of the same color. However, over time, designers have learned to add various substances to the raw materials that give the details one or another shade. Various colors are achieved with special additives.
So, for example, cadmium gives a scarlet saturated hue. Delicate pink buds on the plafonds bloom thanks to silicon, and elegant violets are obtained with the addition of manganese and copper. Yellow primroses can be created using uranium, and young green foliage blooms, it is worth adding chromium to the raw material.
Colored crystal products are present in the assortment of many manufacturers. Most often, colored chandeliers are made, consisting of several arms. One notable example is the Elite Bohemia six-arm chandelier made of colored crystal.
With the development of new technologies, modern lamps are also changing. If the first Czech chandeliers were lit with candles, today the whole world uses electricity. And to reduce energy costs, some manufacturers of Czech glass lamps offer their customers chandeliers specifically for LED lamps.
All chandeliers can be divided into two types. And Czech-made devices are no exception:
- Ceiling - they have a glass shade in contact with the surface of the ceiling. They are most often used in small rooms with low ceilings. Such chandeliers are present in the assortment of many Czech manufacturers. As a rule, they are compact in size and have an affordable price. This proves once again that luxury has become more affordable.
- Suspended - these are chandeliers in which only the socket itself is in contact with the ceiling, and not the plafonds. Most often these are multi-lamp products. The smallest one is a three-lamp chandelier. There are also six-arm lamps. They are distinguished by a richer design than ceiling ones. In their manufacture, expensive materials are often used - gilding, Swarovski crystals, etc. Some details can be made of metal. But since this material is difficult to work with, it is most often a single item made to order.
Manufacturing companies
Here is a brief overview of some of the most popular manufacturers specializing in the manufacture of chandeliers, as well as sconces, floor lamps and other crystal products.
Elite bohemia
This is perhaps the most famous Czech crystal company. Founded in 1996, the company has its own factories. Her things are in demand all over the world. Bohemia chandeliers are characterized by a combination of transparent and colored décor elements. And thanks to cooperation with the Swarovsky brand, rare in beauty things are obtained.
11 pictures
Preciosa
The plant of the company with more than a century of history is located in Jablonec nad Nisou. Its products are elite. Chandeliers from Preciosa adorn the most famous palaces and halls around the world: the Royal Opera in Rome, La Scala Opera House in Milan.
Today the company uses not only glass for the manufacture of its products, but also zirconium, artificial diamonds and other materials.
7 pictures
ArtGlass
This brand is also located in Jablonec nad Nisou. Its assortment includes more than a thousand models from classic to modern. The firm also carries out large orders according to individual sketches.
Klarny Bydzov
It is also one of the oldest and most recognizable brands. The production of crystal at the plant of this company began in Novy Bydzhov in 1964. The company's products are exported to many countries on all continents and have international certificates confirming their high quality.
Bohemia crystal
The plant successfully uses the art casting technique, due to which the horns and other body parts are graceful and, as it were, floating in the air. Here, the customer can assemble his own model of the chandelier, replacing some parts or adding something to his liking.
7 pictures
Kvetna
This is one of the oldest factories - it was built in the 18th century in the small town of Strani. This is one of the few places where all the details are still done by hand. In addition, colored crystal is produced here. In the manufacture of products, various precious metals are used, for example, titanium, which is contained in a new generation of glass melt - crystallite. This is an environmentally friendly material from which all products have been made in this enterprise for the past few years. Titanium increases the strength of the finished product and crystallite shades can even be washed in dishwashers.
Titania lux
The company produces only metal parts from precious metals, and orders crystal on the side. But the metal is of high quality: shiny silver, artificially aged bronze, as well as brass, copper. Thus, the assortment of this brand includes both small lamps in a modern style for city apartments, and huge semi-antique chandeliers for rich mansions.
Altalusse
The trick of this company is that it focuses on the middle class and produces inexpensive chandeliers in modern directions, such as modern or high-tech. Altalusse designers boldly combine age-old traditions and modern innovations: crystal pendants and LED lamps, metal and wood.
An overview of Czech ARTGLASS chandeliers can be viewed in the following video.