Crystal Bowls

For the best in decorative glassware, crystal bowls are a classic selection. Showcasing both brilliant sparkle and detailed designs, crystal glass bowls celebrate the beauty of the medium along with an essential evolution in glassmaking history.

The craft of crystal glass is a relatively recent innovation and was not perfected until the 18th century in England. Prior to that point, transparent glass was common, but its color and clarity were far from ideal. The iron inherent in silica sand, one of the primary elements of glass, gave the final product a green tint. As innovation progressed, glassmakers tinkered with different glass formulas in an effort to counteract these limitations and to create the utmost clarity in their pieces.

The champions in this quest were the English, who learned that the addition of lead oxide to their glassmaking mixture yielded impeccable clarity and miraculous refraction when formed or cut. This leaden addition catapulted formed crystal glass, particularly decorative crystal glass bowls, into the upper echelons of production.

Quick Facts

• A Waterford crystal bowl filled with shamrocks is gifted to the United States President every year on Saint Patrick's Day
• Traditional lead crystal can have up to a 33% lead content. An easy way to tell how much lead your piece has is to hold it up to the light: the greater the refraction, the higher the level of lead
• Concerned about the lead in lead crystal? Fear not: while it's not recommended to leave liquids in lead crystal vessels for extended periods of time, research suggests that straightforward serving from these pieces is not risky