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One of the Czech Republic's most famous products, Bohemian Crystal, is sold in shops throughout Prague. Czech glass is of excellent quality and much of it is hand made. |
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Bohemian Crystal
Czech Bohemian crystal glassware contains 24% pbo (the lead
content gives the glass
a crystalline sparkle).
The unique design in crystal artwork and superior
product created from this magnificent glass have
made it very popular throughout the whole world.
Though traditional glass designs have been maintained,
new and modern glass designs have been added to
the crystal to rejuvenate its notoriety. |
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Hand cut crystal is artfully designed on vases, wine
glasses, plates, gift ware, bowls, decanters, and other
glassware. These beautiful items make excellent weddings
gifts, anniversary gifts, or indeed for any special
occasion.
Concept behind
Bohemian Crystal
Glass, it is believed, brings peace and coziness to
a home. A look through glass should even concentrate
people’s minds.
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Rise & Fall of Bohemian crystal
Czech crystal dates back to the renaissance
period, and the people's desire for antique cut
stones.
At the beginning of the 17th century the first
Italian and German cutters (Lehmann, Misseriono
brothers and others) came to the court of King
Rudolf II and began to cut the natural crystal
found throughout the Czech Republic. This they
called "mountain crystal".
Next, in 1683, Michael Muller, production manager
in Janouskova glassworks near Vimperk, discovered
chalk glass similar to the natural crystal and
most Bohemian glass factories decided to use this
instead.
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By
the beginning of the 18th century, Bohemian
Glass had a strong control over world markets.
Business centres called ” Bohemian houses”
were in the 12 biggest European cities, 38 European
ports and outside of Europe, in Baltimore, Beirut,
Cairo, Mexico, New York and Smyrna. You could
say that the houses were the first department
stores of their age.
All attempts by other countries to imitate original
Bohemian crystal were unsuccessful until the beginning
of the 19th century, when the demand for traditional
Bohemian crystal crashed; a new type of glass
had been discovered - English lead crystal.
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Only a few Bohemian glassworks stayed afloat, the rest
were soon bankrupt. The new English glass could be melted
at lower temperatures, engraved and cut easier. Therefore
its price was much lower. Czechs glass makers simply
did not respond fast enough to the market demand for
the lead crystal.
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The outlook was pretty
bleak for the Czech glass makers, until they in
the second half of the 19th century they decided
to fight back. Focusing on their strengths, they
decided to re-establish the glory of hand made
and hand cut Bohemian lead crystal. The new initiative was a great success and the
crystal still keeps its unique appearance today.
No other glass could, and can, offer the same
look. Recommended crystal shop in Prague: Moser
Glass |
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