Crystal Chandeliers and Lead Crystal

Chandeliers have a long and rich history around the world, and are still widely used today as a way to add style and sophistication to a home environment. While there are numerous styles of chandeliers that have been made throughout the ages, perhaps the most famous of them all are crystal chandeliers (Kristalllüster) . Crystal chandeliers are not actually made from crystals, but are instead manufactured from lead glass

This kind of material allows glass makers to produce designs of outstanding beauty and lustre, due to their highly refractive index and light scattering properties. Lead glass is a variety of glass that has a particularly high lead content, which replaces the calcium that is typically found in potash glass. The term crystal in this context comes from the Italian word cristallo, which was used by the Venetian glass makers to describe how well this material imitates rock crystal structures.

The use of lead glass in lampworking and chandelier manufacture is linked to many European centres, especially the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Despite the spread of lead glass techniques the 18th century, glass making continues to be the island of Murano's strongest industry even today. Much of the history of the Murano chandelier is associated with the production of lead crystal glass, which is the material used in crystal chandeliers. The strong links between Murano and Venice are important to the history of glass making in the area, and indeed the history of chandeliers all over the world.

Lead glass is very popular in chandeliers, due to the way the lead oxide raises the refractive index of the glass. This makes for chandeliers of amazing vibrancy and beauty, as the crystal scatters all incoming light ino its component spectra. This prism like effect is also used in the manufacture of lenses, although other components must also be included to keep lenses achromatic. Along with a higher refractive index, lead oxide also makes it easier for chandelier makers to cut the glass, making it possible to produce a wider range of shapes and styles. The presence of lead makes it softer and easier to cut, with more lead increasing the sparkle. Lead glass crystal is widely used in the chandelier industry today, and the famous and iconic crystal chandelier would never have been possible without this wondrous and beautiful of material.