What is the difference between glass and crystal?
Czech crystal is glass mass made from silica, soda and lead oxide. Czech glass is made from soda or potash, lime and silica and contains no lead oxide at all. Lead oxide makes the glass mass heavier, thicker and softer – which enables us to cut into it. It also increases the clarity and light refraction of glass mass. On the other hand Czech glass is thinner, more fragile and harder. That is why the Czech glass is not decorated by cutting, but rather by engraving and painting. In the USA glass, which contains more that 1% of lead oxide, is considered to be crystal. However, Bohemia or Czech crystal contains between 10 – 30% of lead oxide. Particularly our hand-made crystal contains 24% of lead oxide, which is the top quality. 30% crystal is too soft and it is used for some of the crystal trimmings only.
Bohemian glass collection include a wide range of products from the simplest hot-shaped, colored glass products to the art pieces, in which our glass masters show their skills and true mastery.
Bohemian Glass section is divided into following categories:
- High Enamel glass – Selection of vases, drinking and coffee sets, bowls, glasses, tumblers, boxes and baskets decorated with gilding and High Enamel raised paint with floral motives. All glass products in this category traditionally come either in green, red or blue color.
- Hot-shaped glass – This is the line for upscale style and taste. Composed of both traditional and modern pieces, this is the collection that you will find on the best dining tables the world over. Hot shaping is done by hand with the use of wooden tools right at the hot-furnace. Except for vases, plates and bowls, you can find lots of various other items in this line as well: Free-shaped figurines, flowers and decorative fruits and vegetables.
- Historical glass replicas –This line is like a trip through the history of glassmaking in Bohemia. We carry replicas of Ancient, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque Glass, glass from 17th, 18th and 19th century and also Art Nouveau and Egermann glass replicas from the first half of the last century.
- Limited edition glass – View our beautiful and limited collection of art vases, bowls and drinking sets in colored or clear crystallite glass execution. This is actually the most exclusive collection we do have to offer. All items are decorated by hand with the deep relief sandblasting technique. Truly amazing!
- Paperweights and other gift items – collection of round and pebble glass and crystal paperweights with colored motifs inside, crystal trees and glass nail-files. All hand-made with care in Bohemia, Czech Republic.
- Egermann glass - Friedrich Egermann (1777-1864). The highest acknowledgement obtained - his invention of red staining in 1832. Due to the invention, he managed to raise the Bohemian glassmaking on the world standard and to win numerous awards. The tradition of the manufacturer has been preserved until now under the trademark “Egermann”.