Cut Crystal Sugar newest and Creamer in Buzz Design; Hand Cut

In newest making crystal, an amount of lead oxide is placed in the silica or other material used in regular glass. The lead oxide replaces the calcium components which normally make the glass cloudy and creates a very clear component of what was at one time regular glass.
Different amounts of lead oxide are used. 9 to 12 % lead is referred to as crystalline . The European standard for crystal is 24%. At that percentage, the glass gives its clearest and sturdiest body.
Lead crystal has a lower melting point. For that reason, an artist has longer to cut the design before it hardens. The crystal is also softer than regular glass. A thin glass would shatter and break were an elaborate design attempted. Since lead crystal is softer an elaborate design on it would probably survive the cut.
There are two types of crystal(There are actually many types, but for the sake of this article, Cut and Pressed.)
Most crystal and glass are pressed. An artist designs the pattern and places it in the kiln. As the glass melts, it picks up the pattern installed there. Very quick, inexpensive and is easy to make multiple items.
There is an interim type where the initial material is pressed after which an artist creates some cutting.
The other type,of course, is cut. Created after the glass is design in its basic shape, whether molded or blown.Intricate cuts and styles can be created.
How can you tell the difference? Holding cut crystal to the light will create prism like effects and sparkle. The lines where the cuts were made will be very precise. Molded glass or crystal will be dull with the cut lines rounded . Because of the lead content, crystal will always be heavier than glass.
There are some 40 basic patterns of cut. The pattern used in these is "Buzz". The artist starts with a basic star and then creates lines emanating from the edges of the star. One of the hardest of all cuts as the thin lines coming from the star have to be precise and "not run into each other" The handles have the "roundlets" cut.
Some of the harder cuts to achieve in hand cutting is the "Strawberry" and "crosshatch."
All of the niches surrounding the top of the bowls are not damaged. There are no chips or cracks.