Glass Cutting

Origin: 6th Century B.C.

Cut glass" refers to crystal glassware that has been decorated entirely by hand using rotating abrasive wheels to cut patterns into the glass surface. One of the oldest traditional methods of glass decoration, cut glass dates back many centuries, with artifacts from the sixth century B.C. indicating its use by the ancient Romans and Babylonians. The technique reached the Czech Republic by the end of the sixteenth century, and soon became a defining element of Bohemian crystal design.

Today, with equipment that has remained virtually unchanged since then (except for the introduction of electrical motors in the last century), ARTĚL’s team of skilled artisans uses this labor-intensive technique to create modern interpretations of classic designs.