and crystal chandeliers. Schonbek was founded in 1870 in Bohemia, classic source of the world's finest crystal, where the Schonbek faminly enjoyed the royal patronage of the Hapsburgs. Today Schonbek has an American address, but it remains a European company in its design heritage. Schonbek crystal chandeliers have been copied on three continents. But the imitations never equal a genuine Schonbek.
When a design calls for dazzling embellishment, we hang our crystal with a lavish hand. To bring out the prismatic beauty of the crystal, we are generous with lights as well. A schonbek is immediately recognizable by its serenely even lighting. But the most inimitable quality of a Schonbek is its design integrity. A Schonbek crystal chandelier is designed from within, its form growing out of the inner idea The frame is not merely a support but a work of art in itself. Every Schonbek crystal chandelier comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
We have an artist's longing freedom of expression, so we design and manufacture our own components-not the least of reasons why Schonbek is a recognized world leader in design. We pioneered the era of contemporary design by inventing new ways to display crystal. We stood crystal on end, hid the frame beneath a dazzling fabric of crystal created complex mosaics of crystal impossible to counterfeit. We embedded tiny crystal beads in desiccated frames to create a wholly new, playfully eclectic style of beauty. The Schonbek company holds numerous patents.
Schonbek crystal chandeliers feature a variety of crystal from sources around the world. Swarovski Strass crystal, clear as spring water and totally flawless, is considered the finest in the world. Manufactured in the Austrian Alps, Strass is characterised by perfect cutting of facets, prismatic brilliance and a lead content in excess of 30 percent. Swarovski Spectra crystal offers perfection of cutting and polishing, as well as the cachet of the world famous Swarovski name. Heritage Handcut is produced by craftsmen who serve demanding apprenticeships of five years or more to learn historic methods. This precious crystal is cut by hand on an iron wheel and then a sandstone wheel, and polished on a wood-heel with marble dust. A unique variety of handcut crystal used in some Schonbek designs is Optic Quality Heritage Handcut. Normally used in optical instruments, this crystal is a Schonbek innovation. Gemcut is first quality machine-cut crystal noteworthy for its prismatic brilliance, clarity, razor-sharp faceting and precise polishing. Vintage Crystal revives antique-style crystal beads with the heirloom flavor of estate jewelry. The Legacy Collection consists of finely-molded Venetian crystal from the legendary glassworks of Murano, just north of Venice. Colored Crystal in Jewel tones is a hot new fashion with its roots in the sixteenth century. Each color is the result of a secret formula handed down from one generation to the next since ancient times. Rock crystal is a natural quartz, mined not man-made, and laboriously hand-sculpted and polished by skilled artisans. Fissures, inclusions and crystalline explosions created by geological events spanning billions of years make each rock crystal unique.