Glass and Crystal: Differences and Types of Use
Glass and crystal are some of the materials we use most often for our lamps and furniture.
Their innate characteristics such as shine, brilliance and elegance are what we try most to infuse into our creations and it is therefore natural for us to always look for new ways to use them, without distorting their precious nature.
But what are the differences between glass and crystal?
And how do we use these materials, which are among the most precious and sought-after in the world, to make lamps and decorative objects?
The fragility of crystal is not a weakness, but a refinement.
Differences between Glass and Crystal
Glass and crystal are both considered to be glass, but vary in composition. Both are mainly made up of silicates, but crystal involves the addition of lead oxide amounting to at least 24% by weight.
The most commonly called glass is characterised by its transparency, its versatility and its hardness, but it is very fragile.
Crystal glass, on the other hand, which as mentioned is a particular type of glass characterised by the presence of lead oxide, has different qualities, not only from an aesthetic point of view: Crystal glass has a higher density which also leads to an increase in the refractive index, making it shinier with optical properties similar to those of diamond.
Lighting Applications
We love to design details with light and we want our creations, like precious jewels, to enhance the environments they inhabit.
This is the reason why we have always sought out the most precious materials, including Murano glass and Bohemian crystal.
We use Murano glass to create magnificent decorative elements for our lamps, such as bunches of grapes or small leaves.
Bohemian crystal is perfect for prisms and pendants, but can also be used beautifully for decorative elements such as small daisies or other small flowers.
We also use glass and crystal for the structure of our lamps, which can often have arms and columns made of these materials.
Use in Decoration
Playing with light also means working with the rainbow reflections of glass and crystals, their magical transparencies… which is why we use these materials extensively in the creation of decorative objects such as vases, centrepieces or candelabra.
Nonsololuce is dedicated to the creation of precious furnishing accessories, such as these hand-cut lead crystal vases.
The grinding of our crystal vases is a very delicate process that eliminates the imperfections of the irregular crystal edge.
The workmanship is done entirely by hand by our craftsmen who make the crystal polished, shiny and bright.
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