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Glassmaking has a long and ancient history throughout all world cultures, dating as far back as the third millennium BC. Around the first century BC, the new method of "glass blowing" would revolutionize glassmaking. Glass beads, no doubt imports, were found with other artifacts in the La Tene region of Switzerland, from 500 BC. The designs found in this important archaeological discovery are referred to as "early Celtic art" or "La Tene art". Much of the spirals, knots, and stylized nature elements were revived throughout the Celtic lands of Ireland, Scotland, and England in the 7th century. Glassmakers today use many of these designs to decorate their pieces.
With the decline of the Roman Empire in the 4th and 5th centuries AD, glass production diminished. In Europe, there was a limited revival of glass making in the early 12th Century, with the development of stained glass windows for cathedrals & monasteries, many of which are still found today. Glassmaking in Europe became a thriving industry around the 13th century when Venice became a major glassmaking center.
Venetian glass was noted for its brilliance and for its light, imaginative forms and it was the Venetians who brought their skills to Scotland, Ireland, and England, thus beginning a long tradition of glassmaking. Crystal came into predominant production when English glassmaker George Ravenscroft (1618-1681) developed lead crystal. By using higher proportions of lead oxide instead of potash, he succeeded in producing a brilliant glass with a high refractive index, which was very well suited for deep cutting and engraving. Thus began the tradition and craft of elegant and beautiful crystal in Edinburgh, Galway, and other parts of the Celtic lands.
Today, the craft embraces the Celtic traditions and natural beauty of the regions where the crystal and glass is produced. Through ancient Celtic designs, national symbols such as the Irish Claddagh, the Scottish Thistle, or the Welsh dragon, or the natural beauty of the Celtic lands, the crystal and glass at Cara Magnus Celtic is blown, cut, etched, engraved, molded or painted into pieces of exquisite beauty and deep meaning.
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