Schonbek introduces exclusive
chandeliers
with new forms and
styles of crystal
PLATTSBURGH, NY – Schonbek unveiled a plethora of new lamp and chandelier designs with unusual types of crystal ornamentation at High Point this season.
“Clear crystal is classic,” said Andrew Schonbek. “It’s what most people picture when they think of crystal chandeliers. And certainly it will never be surpassed for its beauty and romantic associations.
“But because crystal has been our focus at Schonbek spanning two centuries, we like to experiment. Our explorations will be of special interest to designers in search of the next thing. They include new chandelier designs in antiqued crystal, white crystal, Jet Black crystal, rock crystal and colored crystal.”
To create new mirrored crystal chandeliers, Schonbek employed a jewelry-making technique to age the crystal, backing each French pendeloque with a variegated, satiny gold coating. As a result the crystal is rich in silvery and golden reflections.
The mirrored frame of the design contributes to its vintage air, the scrollwork curling and curving like a treble clef.
“With new Jet Black crystal chandeliers,” said Schonbek, “we’ve gone totally chic. Black will always be a high fashion color, and expressed in crystal it acquires a glossy glamour that’s hard to resist.”
Black crystal opened up new possibilities with lamp design as well. One lamp is a curvaceous composition of Jet Black crystal spheres. Other lamps mix massive Jet Black crystal globes with space age disks of optic crystal.
“Working with black crystal,” said Schonbek, “inspired us to consider its opposite: luminous white crystal. White is a traditional color for lamps and lampshades, so our approach had to be new and different. Solid white crystal, faceted like a diamond, was a total surprise.
“In traditional chandelier design, we mixed opalescent white crystal ornaments with classic clear crystal pendants and artfully cracked crystal. We called this design Vivaldi because of its harmonious presentation of complexity.”
The introduction of STRASS® Swarovski® Golden Teak crystal was a golden opportunity for Schonbek to show the fashion world a new idea of opulence. Schonbek offered several chandelier designs trimmed with this iridescent golden crystal, and Golden Teak crystal jewels enriched a number of Schonbek lamps as well.
“But no discussion of crystal is complete without reference to rock crystal,” said Schonbek, “the venerable ancestor of every other type of crystal.”
Schonbek revived rock crystal chandeliers a few years ago to a market that had largely forgotten its existence. Only collectors and curators really understood the historic importance and aesthetic appeal of this semi-precious gemstone. Since then, the original crystal has become the new crystal.
Schonbek introduced several new rock crystal chandelier designs at the High Point market.
