Schonbek turns back the
calendar several centuries with
the new Sophia collection of
cast crystal chandeliers
PLATTSBURGH, NY, APRIL 21, 2008 – Schonbek revived a lost art with the new Sophia cast crystal chandelier collection, appearing in select showrooms this spring.
"Sophia is fully cast from top to bottom," said President Andrew Schonbek, "and trimmed with antique style crystal. Both castings and crystal have a story.
"Cast chandeliers in the market have degenerated in recent times. Because castings are expensive and difficult to execute, chandelier makers have purchased cast elements haphazardly from various catalogs and sources, with unlovely results. Arms will differ in ornamentation from scrolls and body.
"We started from scratch to create Sophia. In collaboration with master casters in Italy, we made tooling for dozens of cast components, all with interrelated ornamental themes. So you have a chandelier that’s completely harmonious even down to the structural bits and pieces."
Sophia cast chandeliers are inspired by eighteenth-century rococo styling. Exuberant leafy and floral motifs are etched and incised in great detail in the castings. At some points the casting becomes filigree, taking on a light and lacy look unique among cast designs.
One design motif came from an antique chandelier that hung in the Schonbek family home in Czechoslovakia two generations ago.
The rendition of Sophia with open cage construction alludes to seventeenth-century styling. There is no stem pipe but rather an elaborate enclosure of cast scrolling elements framing a dramatic STRASS® Swarovski® Crystal sphere, or a hollow blown and handcut Bohemian crystal sphere, depending on the crystal selection.
"The crystal has its own mystique," said Schonbek. "the signature pendant is a postmodern, teardrop-shaped pendeloque with quietly dramatic faceting, not at all frilly like most pendeloques.
"Sophia means wisdom in Greek, and we felt it wise to be as restrained in our crystal choice as we were ornate in our style of casting. The sleek simplicity of the crystal forms a thrilling contrast with the intricacy of the cast ornamentation.
"And you can play with counterpoint even more by means of crystal color and finish. Sophia cast chandeliers come in wonderfully subtle new STRASS® Swarovski® Crystal colors: Silver Shade, Golden Shadow and Golden Teak." Clear crystal options include STRASS® Swarovski® Crystal and optic quality Heritage Handcut®.
Schonbek created a variety of new finishes for its new cast crystal chandeliers. They are antique in mood and involve extensive handwork.
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