Bohemian red crystal vase decorated with vine leaves, 19th century

Beautiful bohemian red crystal vase, mouth-blown and carved with a turn, decorated with diamonds and vine leaves. The red color was obtained by means of metal oxides such as lead oxide, the decoration of hollow vine leaves was achieved by applying acid to the crystal. In the sixteenth century, a prague goldsmith, caspar lehmann, adapted the technique of cutting to lathe, previously used for precious stones, to the cutting of glass and crystal. The wheel is actually a tool with a rotating circular abrasive stone on which the artist incises the glass to create patterns.