subject: Crystal Chandeliers""what Would Best Suit Your Home [print this page] Chandeliers have distinct qualities that could make rooms appear vibrant and classy. Since they are commonly hooked up on ceilings, they can easily catch the attention and interest of visitors. Today's chandeliers are constructed from a whole range of materials like antlers, metals such as brass and wrought iron chandeliers, plastic as well as gemstones. However, chandeliers made from crystal pieces remain as one of the most popular ceiling accents.
A crystal is a mineral or glass resembling ice known for its brilliance and optical purity. The brilliant characteristic of such gemstone comes from the refraction of light that passes through a prism--the same phenomenon that causes rainbow formation. Because of its aesthetic appeal, crystal pieces have long been used since ancient times until today as decorative items like jewelries and contemporary chandeliers. It is also acknowledged for its healing properties.
It was during the 16th century that the earliest known crystal chandeliers made from rock crystal pieces were used. A century after, which is considered as the Baroque period, craftsmen were able to perfect cutting rock crystal pieces used for chandeliers, and around that same time the first crystal glass chandeliers were created in France. Chandeliers made entirely out of crystal glasses were originally manufactured in Murano and eventually spread in Bohemia, England, Spain and Ireland. From here, the designs of crystal pieces used for chandeliers have evolved significantly, allowing them to befit any types of room.
The crystal stones used for contemporary chandeliers are either manually cut or machine cut. If you intend to buy chandeliers made from crystal pieces, it would be preferable to know first what crystal options you have. This way, it would be easier for you to secure the ones that would definitely suit your rooms' interior designs. Below are the types of crystal stones often used for chandeliers along with their descriptions.
First in line is the Strass Swarovski crystal from the Austrian Alps which is regarded as the most finest form of crystal and is known for its flawless quality. Crystal chandeliers constructed from these gemstones may come as plain or with differing colors, and could cost an arm and a leg. Meanwhile, heritage hand cut crystal pieces, as their name suggests, are hand-made by craftsmen through two cutting processes""iron and stone wheeling. After the crystal has been iron and sandstone wheeled, it is then hand-polished through the help of a wood-wheel sprinkled with marble dust, which in turn leaves traces of wood wheel to the stone that actually serves as the gem's mark of authenticity.
Rock crystal pieces are natural quartz that have been in use since the ancient times, and are acknowledged for the long process of their formation that gives them their distinct irregular shapes. These raw crystal pieces are skillfully hand cut, grind, and polished by gem cutters, usually taking a week or two for each piece. Meanwhile, legacy crystal pieces are manufactured in Venice and instead of cutting they are fire-polished making them more brilliant and luminous, while vintage crystal pieces are just like estate jewelries that goes along with fanciful beading. Generally, crystal chandeliers are truly remarkable as the light they emit are bright and their aesthetic are easy to the eye.
