What makes lead glass sparkle?
Lead glass is refractive, i.e., it bends waves of light, creating a prismatic effect. Lead also gives the glass remarkable clarity. Cutting facets into lead glass, in the same way one facets a diamond, enhances the brilliant sparkle of the glass by creating more angled surfaces, allowing multiple reflections and refractions. Lead glass is also noted for the distinctive weight lead gives glass, and the melodious, bell-like tone it makes when struck. Return What are cut, engraved and rock crystal glass? When George Ravenscroft developed lead glass in 1674 he created a “soft,” heavy glass. The glass is much less fragile than earlier soda glass, allowing extensive deep cutting or engraving. All cut, engraved or rock crystal glass started with the “blank,” the unmarked solid glass body from the glass blower. Cut glass was cut with large stone (now carborundum) wheels, in miter cuts and other deeply marked designs. Cut glass was traditionally polished with wooden wheels (now acid polished) t
