Engineering:Bohemian glass

Short description: Regional glass product

Bohemian jug. Produced in Karlsbad (Karlovy Vary) by L. Moser & Söhne (c. 1900)

Bohemian glass (Czech: české sklo), also referred to as Bohemia crystal (český křišťál), is glass produced in the regions of Bohemia and Silesia, now parts of the Czech Republic. It has a centuries-long history of being internationally recognised for its high quality, craftsmanship, beauty and often innovative designs. Hand-cut, engraved, blown and painted decorative glassware ranging from champagne flutes to enormous chandeliers, ornaments, figurines and other glass items are among the best known Czech exports and immensely popular as tourist souvenirs. The Czech Republic is home to numerous glass studios and schools attended by local and foreign students.{{citation needed|date=June 2025} The oldest archaeological excavations of glass-making sites in the region date to around 1250 and are located in the Lusatian Mountains of Northern Bohemia. Other notable Czech sites of glass-making throughout the ages are Skalice u České Lípy, Jablonec nad Nisou, Železný Brod, Poděbrady, Karlovy Vary, Kamenický Šenov and Nový Bor. Several of these towns have their own glass museums with many items dating to around 1600. Jablonec nad Nisou in particular is famous for the local tradition of manufacturing glass costume jewellery. Its long history is documented by large collections in the Museum of Glass and Jewellery in Jablonec nad Nisou.{{citation needed|date=June 2025} Among the most famous Czech glass producers are: Moser (considered the most luxurious Czech brand), Rückl (the glass from them was owned, for example, by the British Queen Elizabeth II), and Crystalex (the largest Czech producer of drinking glasses, own trademark Bohemia Crystal).

Crystal vs. glass

Cut crystal wine glasses in the "Fakiris" series by the FA Knittel, Reinerzer Kristallglaswerke, in cameo glass technique.

Originally a vessel of "crystal" exclusively meant one carved from the transparent mineral rock crystal, an extravagant and highly expensive object. The glass industry appropriated the term for glass objects. The modern meaning of crystal versus glass changes according to the country. The word "crystal" means, in most of the Western world, lead glass, containing lead oxide. In the European Union, the labeling of "crystal" products is regulated by Council Directive 69/493/EEC, which defines four categories, depending on the chemical composition and properties of the material. Only glass products containing at least 24% lead oxide may be referred to as "lead crystal". Products with less lead oxide, or glass products with other metal oxides used in place of lead oxide, must be labeled "crystallin" or "crystal glass". In the United States it is the opposite - glass is defined as "crystal" if it contains only 1% lead. Although in the EU, in the Czech Republic, the term "crystal" is commonly used for any exquisite, high quality glass. The presence of lead in crystal softens the glass and makes it more accessible for cutting and engraving. Lead increases the weight of the glass and causes the glass to disperse light more. Glass can contain up to 40% lead, if maximum hardness is desired. On the other hand, crystal can contain less than 24% lead if it has a high proportion of barium oxide, which ensures high quality light diffraction. The term "half-crystal" has been used within glassmaking for glass with a relatively low level of lead.

History

Bohemia, currently a part of the Czech Republic, became famous for its beautiful and colourful glass during the Renaissance. The history of Bohemian glass started with the abundant natural resources found in the countryside.

In the second half of the 19th century, Bohemia looked to the export trade and mass-produced coloured glass that was exported all over the world. Pairs of vases were produced either in a single colour of opaque glass or in two-colour cased glass. These were decorated in thickly enamelled flower subjects that were painted with great speed. Others were decorated with coloured lithographic prints copying famous paintings. These glass objects were made in huge quantities in large factories and were available by mail order throughout Europe and America.{{citation needed|date=June 2025} ut provided inexpensive decorative objects to brighten up ordinary homes. Reverse glass painting was also a Czech specialty. The image is carefully painted by hand on the back of a pane of glass, using a variety of techniques and materials, after which the painting is mounted in a bevelled wooden frame.

Today, Czech crystal chandeliers hang, for example, in Milan's La Scala, in Rome's Teatro dell'Opera, in Versailles palace, in the Hermitage Museum of Saint Petersburg, and more recently inside the royal palace in Riyadh. Various sorts of glassware, art glass, ornaments, figurines, costume jewelry, beads and others also remain internationally valued.{{citation needed|date=June 2025} One of the glass items for which the Czech nation is still well known is the production of "druk" beads. Druks are small (3mm-18mm) round glass beads with small threading holes produced in a wide variety of colors and finishes and used mainly as spacers among beaded jewellery makers.

External links

• [1]
• [2]
• Museum of Glass and Jewellery in Jablonec nad Nisou
• Museum of Glass in Nový Bor
• Moser Museum in Karlovy Vary
• History of Crystal Bohemia in Poděbrady
• Prague Gallery of Czech Glass
• Czech Glass Society
• Czech Glassmaking Schools
• Glass Museum in Harrachov (in Czech and German)