Before buying a candelabra, it’s important to know what you are getting. There are always candelabras for sale, but knowing what to look for can help with your purchasing decision. When shopping for a crystal candelabra, the first thing to understand is the crystal itself. There are two varieties of crystal, classified by the way they are made. Traditionally speaking, neither substance called crystal is actually a crystal. Instead, it is a glass material. However, tradition has been adhered to and the material has kept its name.
Lead crystal is the predominant form of crystal on the market. It is made by replacing the calcium in regular glass with lead content. The most common of the crystals is twenty-four percent, by weight, lead. It has refractive properties noticeably higher than regular glass and is considered more valuable and artistic. Recently optic crystal has become much more popular, especially pertaining to decorative items such as awards and candelabras.
Optic crystal is replacing lead crystal for many forms of artistic display because it has even higher refractive properties than lead crystal with none of the associated health benefits. Therefore, the most ornate crystal candelabras will be fashioned in the optic style. That does not mean that optic crystal is more valuable. Instead, because lead crystal is more challenging to form and fewer artisans produce pieces in lead crystal, it is by far a more expensive material with which to work.
A lead crystal candelabra can easily cost as much as thirty thousand dollars in the case of candelabra chandeliers and for a quality table top candelabra prices will begin around four hundred dollars. Crystal, like fine china, is an insurable item that often is passed down from generation to generation as an heirloom. When shopping for a candelabra there are a few key points.
The first point to keep an eye out for is the quality of the crystal. Many people will assume that all crystal is made equally. That is unfortunately, not true. So even when you are shopping for an iron base with crystal candleholders, check to assure that the crystal you are buying is no less than twenty four percent.
Lead crystal is the predominant form of crystal on the market. It is made by replacing the calcium in regular glass with lead content. The most common of the crystals is twenty-four percent, by weight, lead.
If you want the highest value, find thirty percent. It has slightly lower refractive properties (it reflects light about equally to glass) but is harder and can be fashioned more intricately. For a solid crystal, tabletop candelabra you should expect to pay no less than four hundred dollars—substantially more for the highest in quality. For special occasions, nothing sets the table with as much elegance as that of pure lead crystal.
