Should you have flint glass repaired?
You might not know it by name, but you would certainly recognize it if you saw it. It’s the glass high-endapple cider often comes in — it’s heavy, thick and usually has gorgeous curves. It’s also known as crystal or lead crystal (although it isn’t actually crystal today — but it does look like it!) and is a high-end, luxury option for windows.
Flint glass is sturdy and boasts an incredible reflective clarity. Technically, you can color this just like any other glass, but the vast majority of consumers don’t like that approach. The simplicity of clear flint is in high demand, and many consumers will pay a premium for it.
It’s recyclable, but most homeowners want to preserve it and repair it if necessary.
The first flint glass was made by George Ravenscroft in 1675. He developed a new method of
glassmaking, and his product is what propelled the United Kingdom to become the top glass producer around the globe. Ravenscroft was backed by the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers, a group of British retailers who were unhappy with the quality of competing products coming from Venice, Italy.
History in the Making
Like many artists, Ravenscroft perfected his creation over time. He gave it the moniker because he used calcined flint as the original base. This will decay after several years, but Ravenscroft tackled this issue by introducing lead oxide which turned into lead crystal (thus the reason flint and lead crystal are often used interchangeably).
Today, flint isn’t used to make flint glass, but the name has stuck. To support his work, the Glass Sellers ordered specific designs and created product standards.
The relics of Ravenscroft’s time feature a raven’s head as a seal, an obvious nod to the artist. However, soon a clear English style took over, which was a welcome change from the European styles coming out of Italy.
Compared to other types of glass, flint is very refractive. It was (and is) used to create prisms and lenses, thanks to this quality.
What Glass Ceiling?
Flint glass has proven to be so light dispersive that it’s twice as impressive as crown glass, which is made with a soda-lime concoction. It’s also stronger than products crafted with chromatic aberration.
However, the creation of flint glass has changed drastically since Ravenscroft’s time. These days, any clear, color-free glass might be called flint, and it can come in a variety of thicknesses, shapes, styles and sizes.
Choosing flint glass makes a big statement. It instantly increases the value of a product or home, and is surprisingly repairable when trusted with a reputable repair shop. Contact Murray Glass for all your glass repair needs, flint and otherwise.
