Red Crystal Vase
These red crystal vase selections bring striking Victorian and Art Deco colour into a room, offering rich ruby and cranberry glass forms.
Red Crystal Vase
A red crystal vase takes many forms on this page, appearing most frequently as pairs of Victorian glass lustres alongside mid-century Belgian and Bohemian pieces. These vessels range from mantel lustres adorned with hanging prisms to classic lily vases and flash glass designs.
The pieces cross several distinct eras from the nineteenth century into the nineteen-thirties, showing both English and continental origins. Buyers will encounter robust Victorian examples alongside sleeker Art Deco work by designers such as Charles Graffart for Val St. Lambert.
How they were made
Maker-craftsmen built these items using layers of coloured and clear lead crystal or glass, often applying ruby or cranberry overlays that were subsequently cut back to reveal the transparent material beneath. This cased or flash glass technique demanded precise thermal control and skilled wheel-cutting.
Makers enriched the surfaces with additional details including applied enamel and gold leaf accents. Lustres incorporated hanging crystal prisms suspended from scalloped rims to catch and refract ambient light.
Materials recorded across the inventory include ruby glass, cranberry glass, lead crystal, enamel, and gold leaf.
What varies in quality
The distinction between standard examples and the finest works rests upon the crispness of the glass-cutting and the depth of the coloured overlay. Superior pieces display sharp facet work that cleanly exposes the clear crystal beneath without blurring the interface between the layers.
Proportion and scale also dictate worth, with large mantel garnitures and matched pairs commanding greater presence. The retention of original gilding, enamel detailing, and matching crystal lustres completes a superior specimen.
Val St. Lambert
The Red Crystal Vase Glossary
- Flash glass
- A thin layer of coloured glass fused over a thick base of clear crystal or glass before being cut away. This method allows brilliant contrast between the outer colour and the clear core.
- Mantel lustre
- A decorative ornamental vase fitted with a ring of hanging crystal prisms. These were traditionally placed upon mantelpieces to scatter candlelight.
- Cranberry glass
- A transparent pinkish-red glass produced by adding gold chloride to the molten batch. It gained immense popularity during the Victorian period.
- Lead crystal
- Glass containing a high proportion of lead oxide, which increases weight, brilliance, and refractive index. It provides the heavy feel expected in quality tablewares.
- Over glass
- A manufacturing technique where one layer of glass is encased entirely within or over another. It forms the basis of many cut overlay decorative items.
Red Crystal Vase: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a glass lustre?
A glass lustre is a decorative vase or urn fitted with hanging crystal pendants around the rim. They were designed to catch and multiply the light from nearby candles or lamps.
Victorian drawing rooms featured these prominently on mantelpieces, often arranged in garnitures alongside matching candlesticks.
How do I identify Bohemian glass?
Bohemian pieces often show heavy wheel-cutting and rich flash glass overlays in ruby or green hues. Makers in the region excelled at complex multi-layered glass techniques.
Look for deep, saturated colour paired with brilliant, clear crystal highlights beneath the cut facets.
What is flash glass?
Flash glass consists of a clear glass body dipped into a molten bath of coloured glass to apply a very thin outer skin. Artisans then cut through this outer layer on a wheel to reveal the clear glass underneath.
This technique created high-contrast patterns without requiring the entire object to be made from expensive solid coloured crystal.
How should I clean a lustre?
Clean these pieces gently using lukewarm water and mild soap, avoiding harsh chemicals that might damage surface gilding or enamel. Remove the hanging crystal prisms first to wash them separately.
Dry each component thoroughly with a soft cloth to prevent water spots on the crystal surfaces.