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Scarce availability and the difficulties in processing rock crystal forced efforts to obtain a similar material some other way, other than through mining. The technology of glass production met this need. The word "crystal" came into use in the glass-blowing industry as soon as the first really achromatic glass was successfully produced. This glass contained high amounts of iron oxide, from its raw materials. Combined with the use of glass kilns for production, this meant that ancient and medieval glass always had quite an intensive green shade. In terms of the preparation and melting of raw materials, the most important discoveries were made during the middle ages on the small island of Murano, near Venice. These advances allowed the use of achromatic glass in the production of luxury items, similar to those which until that time had to be hewn from rock crystal. The people of Murano jealously guarded their highly valuable discoveries. A glassblower trying to leak the Murano secret would have risked his life. However, even the most stringent precautions could not stop the inevitable and eventual leaking of the crystal making discovery, and glassblowers across Europe eagerly took up the new crystal techniques. More information about Czech glass Would you like to know more about Czech glass, its history and our chandelier production technology? More information on these pages:
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