Why is it sometimes said «Bohemian glass» and sometimes «Bohemian crystal»? And why is “Bohemian crystal” called “Czech crystal”, and “and Czech glass” is called “Bohemian glass”? Let’s put things in order in this matter too. It should be noted that bohemian glass in eshop aleks-crystal.
For the time being, German prevailed in the Czech Republic. In those days, the Czech Republic was called Königreich Böhmen.
In the 20th century, the German language was done away with and the word «Czechia» began to appear in all names. Thus, an equal sign should be placed between the phrases «Czech glass» and «Bohemian glass».
Let’s go further. What is the difference between «Bohemian crystal» and «Bohemian glass»?
In the first half of the 18th century, Bohemian craftsmen learned, by mixing lead into the glass mass, to achieve the similarity of products to products made of rock crystal. The star of the hero is worthy of Master Müller, who achieved the first results in this matter around 1683.
If the product contains less than 4% lead, then it is glass, and if more than 10%, it is crystal.
If the lead is more than 24%, then this is already «lead crystal». Such norms are established by EU standards.
And in America, glass turns into crystal with the addition of lead only in 1%, because the ocean has its own standards …
Agree, this is how the question asks — why the glass is bodyated with lead?
But why …
First, such a mixture is easier to cut,
and secondly, lead not only makes the glass pleasantly heavier, but also increases the refractive power, as a result of which the sun’s rays begin to play with all the colors of the rainbow.
Glassmakers have tons of secrets.
For example, some tricksters add a couple of teaspoons of barium to a glass-lead porridge and a multi-colored glowing scattering begins to play on the walls and ceiling with even brighter colors.
If, taking a glass in your hand, you feel how pleasantly the biceps tensed, and the eye rejoices in a round dance of bright colored highlights — hold the crystal, and if everything is beautiful, but somehow not hard enough and not very happy, then, alas, glass.
By the way, the strange question never crossed my mind: why is the glass transparent?
If not, then a couple of words about that.
Any different photons passing through matter are either absorbed by it or not. If some of the photons of light reach the light bulb for the substance, then they fly right through.
The most important substance in glass is silicon dioxide. And he is completely indifferent to light quanta in the range from red to violet …
