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From rock crystal to pressed glass
In 1670 the man who invented the technique of casting mirror-glass,
Bernard Perrot, started of casting glass prisms instead of cutting
them out of crystal rock.
The benefits were several; the glass-prism were cheaper to
produce, they were easier to work with and they could be
made bigger since it was difficult to find big pieces of
rock crystal.
Up to one day to cut a dozen prisms
Perrot did cast prisms in small forms of metal; the floating glass-pulp
was levelled by a wooden rolling pin. The hole in the prism was
made of a metal spike that was pierced onto the form. The finished
prisms were fixed in plaster, as they were cut. The prisms were
sometimes cut to half, so a dozen of prisms could take a day to
manufacture.
In the end of the 18th century the earlier import-restrictions revoked
and the import of prisms from foreign countries began.
In the early 19th century large amounts of prisms were imported
from England, Bohemian and Ireland. They were well cut and in different
shapes, something that inspired to brand new models of crystal chandeliers.
Strass och bohemian crystal
Under the post-war period bohemian prisms dominated the Swedish
market but along with the 70´s the Strass and the Italian press
glass became more and more popular. The Strass became a tremendous
success and the trademark "Strass" were later registered.
In the 80´s the Turks started to export prisms that had been cast,
cut and polished by hand, these handmade prisms are today the most
price-friendly alternative. |
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crystal
chandeliers
Conditions of purchase