Cut-glass crystal: history, craft, and contemporary makers

A feature on cut-glass crystal explores its history and contemporary practitioners. The craft dates to Roman times but flourished in 17th- and 18th-century Bohemia with hard, clear crystal suited to engraving. Traditions spread to French makers Saint-Louis and Baccarat, and Ireland's Waterford. In 1938, Saint-Louis displayed its Tommy collection at a Versailles state luncheon. Japan's kiriko tradition, begun by Kagaya Kyūbei in 1834, includes Edo kiriko (clear glass) and Satsuma kiriko (colored with bokashi gradation). Motifs like asanoha (hemp leaf) and kagome (bamboo weave) carry symbolic meanings. Contemporary makers include Robin Alesch's Roman and Williams, which sells Japanese kiriko glasses, and Osaka-based Kimiko Yasuda, who hand-etchs designs on hand-blown crystal using diamond wheels and whetstones, with hand-polishing taking twice as long as cutting. Her patterns include interconnected chrysanthemums symbolizing longevity.