How to recognize Bohemian crystal?
Hello bohemians, I hope you are doing well! Today we are going to talk about crystals and more specifically about the Bohemian crystal.
You probably don’t know what it is, so I will explain it to you. But for that, we need to go back to the 18th century. At that time the bohemian was prominent in history and more particularly in crystal. The word crystal dates back to the 15th century; the Venetians used this word to characterize fine and transparent glass objects. The Bohemian crystal is hard and brilliant.
The first versions are called “bohemian glass” due to its green color. But it is also well known by the name “Czechoslovak crystal.” Bohemian crystal is an astral tradition in the Czech Republic. But it is an object that is exported all over the world. Many say that bohemian glass is the best glass in the world. The bohemian manufacturers have been using the same method for hundreds of years, so it is not possible to determine the age of a piece, making it very difficult to find an antique. Bohemian crystal is used to make stemware, earrings, chandeliers, crystal glasses, and vases. We need several characteristics to recognize it. We will ask ourselves how to recognize Bohemian crystal?
How to recognize Bohemian crystal
The color of Bohemian crystal
To recognize Bohemian crystal, we must go through several steps; the first is the color test. Since the 19th century, bohemian glass can be transparent pink, light blue, red, cobalt, green, or slightly amber. The oldest were forest green and were adorned with a band of gold or an enamel border.
The lead content of Bohemian crystal
To perform this step, we can strike a piece of glass with a light object such as fingernails or gently with a knife. The louder the tone, the higher the lead content. Bohemian crystal must have at least 24% lead content.
The cuts
Since the cuts are made by hand, they are not uniform and similar. We must therefore examine the cuts with a magnifying glass. Fine bohemian glass should resemble lace.
Wear
We need to find signs of wear in the places where fingers naturally surround the glass. These signs of wear are necessarily random. We must therefore look again with the magnifying glass. For your information, you should never put Bohemian crystal in the dishwasher because the heat is too high and the detergents are too aggressive; the glass will lose its natural shine.
The style created by Bohemian crystal
The cutters who create Bohemian crystal make exceptional things; there is grandeur, richness, and boldness. It is a particular style that can be recognized. Sometimes, there is no polishing on Bohemian crystal jewelry; they can be recognized by the fact that they are raw and matte.