Beaded Crystal Chandeliers by Schonbek

Schonbek is constantly reinventing the crystal chandelier, and to achieve this, often devises entirely new technologies.

One such reinvention involved creating intricate frames in organic shapes and embedding these frames with thousands of tiny crystal beads. The new design was called Rivendell. Schonbek has continued to experiment with crystal beading and has introduced a number of new beaded designs since Rivendell.

In many cases the technique used is influenced by what is called channel-setting in jewelry-making.

While Schonbek is best known for its centuries of experience making crystal chandeliers, dating back to Bohemia, less known is that the Schonbek family also had a branch in the jewelry trade. These maternal ancestors were at one time the biggest producer of costume jewelry in Czechoslovakia.

For Schonbek, then, creating chandeliers with the look of fine jewelry comes naturally.

Here are some examples of Schonbek designs that feature the channel-setting and beading of crystal jewels.

		Scheherazade Named after the narrator of the 1001 tales, Scheherazade the chandelier is as richly bejeweled as a fairy tale princess. The swirling frame is composed of Strass® crystal beads channel-set within four gossamer strands of metalwork. The beads appear to float and, indeed, are not attached to the frame but rather contained by it. This is the jeweler’s art expressed in a crystal chandelier.
		Rivendell The design of this crystal chandelier is inspired by the sensuous curves of flowers, leaves and tendrils. Thousands of precious crystal beads are inset, jewel-like, throughout the flowing framework. The intricate metalwork is rough, as if desiccated by time, a startling contrast to the brilliance of the crystal.
		Mirage This crystal chandelier is composed entirely of plump, highly refractive and finely faceted Strass® crystal beads. The fiery beads appear to float within two fine strands of metalwork, tracing the shape of an exotic birdcage or enchanted palace. This is called channel-setting, and no one but Schonbek uses this technique practiced by fine jewelers.
		Buckingham This is a princely crystal chandelier with everything on a grand scale, in particular the oversized rock crystal drops and diamonds, bobeches and finial sphere. But even the beading is extravagant. Plump faceted crystal beads are hand-strung above and below the shapely arms and scrolls of Buckingham, magnifying their magnificence.

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