The start of Crystal Valley
The primary glass furnace was lit in Bohemia in 1376 and within the 1550’s a glass trade was regularly established within the north of the nation, centered across the cities of Jablonec nad Nisou, Bedrichov, Železný Brod, Nový Bor and several other others.
The northern areas of Bohemia had been wealthy in quartz deposits and the area’s deep pine forests, supplied an inexpensive provide of wooden for heating the massive furnaces required to soften glass. These fundamental belongings helped to determine a convention of Bohemian crystal glass and glass costume jewellery that gained world-wide recognition. Thus Crystal Valley was born.
In 1715 Bohemian glassmakers found the artwork of melting colored glass, which opened up new horizons. Glass artisans quickly pioneered a way for replicating the look of treasured and semi-precious stones, producing cut-glass crystals that resembled diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.
Bohemian crystal jewellery travels to Versailles, the Ottoman Empire and Russian courtroom
Phrase of their craftsmanship unfold rapidly and shortly Bohemian glassmakers had been commissioned to make unique items for the palaces of Louis XV in Versailles and Fontainebleau, the courtroom of Turkish Sultan Osman III and Russian Empress Yelisaveta (Elizabeth).
Machines substitute handbook chopping
Glass chopping within the Jablonec area developed additional on the flip of the nineteenth century with machines regularly changing handbook chopping. The trade boomed and a lot of smaller corporations sprang up specializing in lower glass stones, pearls, chandeliers and lighting.
Bohemia quickly turned a world chief within the discipline of glass making. Bohemia crystal and crystal glass costume jewellery turn into the area’s trademark merchandise.
In 1948 the seven important crystal glass factories and 18 small corporations in northern Bohemia merged, forming the Preciosa Group with daughter firms specializing in chandeliers, glass collectible figurines and costume jewellery. These merchandise are among the many nation’s main export articles to this present day.
Nacre pearls and seed beads
Immediately Preciosa Ornela is among the main producers of glass and seed beads on the planet, manufacturing a staggering 3.5 million kilograms yearly, together with over 255,000 forms of beads. Petr Puš is head of the corporate using over 800 folks.
“Preciosa Ornela is a part of the Preciosa group which is the most important crystal glass producer in Europe. We make quite a lot of glass merchandise however the mainstay of our manufacturing is crystal pearls and glass beads of all colors, sizes and styles. We provide the most important vary of those merchandise on the planet and take satisfaction in the truth that our pearls and seed beads should not simply a high quality product however an necessary a part of the cultural id of many tribes and peoples around the globe. There’s a big demand for our beads amongst Indian and different tribes in North and South America, amongst tribes in Africa who use them to brighten their vestments and varied typical merchandise or the Peranacan folks in Singapore who’ve used them for the previous 200 to 300 years.”
Along with working with glass beads, Bohemian artisans additionally pioneered a way for replicating the look of pearls. The so-called Nacre Pearls are an outstanding imitation of pure or cultivated pearls. They’ve a crystal ball core which has a number of coats of nacre utilized, utilizing a expertise that’s similar to the pure manufacturing of pearls. Nacre Pearls have a excessive gloss which – to the bare eye – makes them indistinguishable from real pearls. They’re additionally extremely proof against abrasion, UV radiation, and to alcohol-based perfumes.
The crystal pearls and high-quality replicas of treasured stones serve to make unique design items with filigreed settings and stones blazing in emerald inexperienced, sapphire blue, amethyst purple and ruby pink. Hollywood movie studios steadily fee unique items for his or her historic productions as do European movie makers.
Nonetheless, the most important share of Preciosa Ornela’s manufacturing is bought as single beads in big numbers for use in conventional arts and crafts or garments making the world over. Petr Puš says that the demand for the corporate’s merchandise is so nice that clients typically await as much as two years for his or her orders.
“Our greatest market is India, with none doubt, we’re nonetheless promoting to Ukraine even now, additionally to Africa, South Africa is a large market, and the Arab world basically. Egypt and Turkey make big commissions for workshops, which use our merchandise day by day to brighten an enormous number of conventional merchandise for home use and to promote to vacationers. Equally North and South America are big markets, Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia, notably. Solely a fraction of our manufacturing is bought in Europe, the place the curiosity is far decrease. However, I’ve to say, our curiosity isn’t just to promote our product, we prefer to see the place it finally ends up, how they’re used and we’re glad to see that our pearls and glass beads have an immensely necessary position within the tradition and traditions of individuals the world over. “
The start of the twenty first century referred to as for greener merchandise and in 2013 Preciosa produced lead-free crystal. This distinctive materials, with its extraordinary sparkle, meets the very best worldwide requirements of high quality and environmental certification. Lead free crystals at the moment are bought inside Preciosa’s Maxima line.
In 2017, after greater than three years of growth, Preciosa launched a premium high quality crystal –introduced in its Chaton Rose MAXIMA line. It’s able to reflecting as much as 264 distinctive rays of sunshine – greater than another crystal obtainable on world markets as we speak.
Preciosa founds its personal analysis institute
Preciosa Group has by no means underestimated the significance of analysis and growth to take the abilities of glass artisans additional with cutting-edge expertise. In 1956 Preciosa based the Analysis Institute of Glass and Jewelry in Jablonec nad Nisou, which as we speak serves as an integral a part of the corporate and stays some of the revered analysis and growth services within the glass trade. The institute’s specialists deal not simply with crossing the boundaries of what’s potential technologically however ensuring {that a} gorgeous crystal glass chandelier will face up to the journey to its vacation spot and the circumstances there. Its director Vladimir Hejkal explains:
“We’ve a condensation chamber, a salt chamber and a local weather chamber within the institute in order that we will take a look at what the totally different circumstances will do to our merchandise. As a result of once we ship a chandelier, it might journey to the airport in -20 levels temperatures, then land in Dubai the place it’s 50 levels Celsius and condensation may trigger corrosion or another drawback. It’s the similar with our jewellery line, that can also be examined right here and particular person items are positioned in numerous circumstances for as much as a month. If there’s a drawback, be it corrosion or anything, then we’ve got to deal with it.”
Preciosa chandeliers
Preciosa chandeliers grace palaces, luxurious motels and personal residences the world over. Award-winning Czech designer and sculptor Rony Plesl who is among the firm’s shiny lights, explains in what manner they’re totally different from the competitors.
“What’s particular isn’t just the custom of chandeliers however of crystal glass making basically. Bohemia crystal is exclusive in that you just work with engraving to get the refraction of sunshine you need while in Venice they work extra with chipped glass, there may be a whole lot of fine-tuning in color and element. Czech glass is extra like engaged on a sculpture the place you employ chopping, engraving and lightweight to get the end result you need. And it’s the similar with chandeliers. For me as an artist that is extremely engaging – as a result of I’m a sculptor by career and began designing by pure likelihood. So I see design via the eyes of a sculptor –as a statue, an object with historic connotations, quite than one thing topic to the altering style tendencies. Artists work with the human reminiscence, with what’s acquainted and add one thing of their very own.”
Museum of Glass and Jewellery in Jablonec nad Nisou
The historical past of Bohemian glass making is documented within the Museum of Glass and Jewellery in Jablonec nad Nisou. It presents a singular assortment of designer jewels, a whole bunch of hundreds of beads, buttons and different glass-made style equipment. Its director Milada Valečková says the gathering on show displays the altering fashions from the early days to the current.
“Style is linked to the occasions. That’s most seen in our Artwork Nouveau part. There are a whole lot of ornate items impressed by the Orient. Immediately, there may be minimal demand for gilded and painted glass, purchasers need lower glass, with daring, fashionable, clear traces.”
In 2020 the artwork of conventional Czech blown-glass and beaded Christmas decorations was added to the UNESCO listing of world intangible cultural heritage. The museum is now attempting to get the Czech glass making-tradition formally acknowledged by UNESCO.
Whether or not or not the bid is profitable, the celebrity of Bohemia’s glassmakers has unfold far and huge and few guests to Czechia depart with no memento of crystal glass or glass jewellery.
