"Sakura" bowl by Artel

The fascinating beauty of cherry blossoms in the countryside is fleeting. By contrast on the beautiful "Sakura" bowl by Artel, the splendour of the pink and white petals is timeless. The relief of these cherry blossoms is contoured with incredible definition and detail on the fine Artel crystal glass, evoking the impression that it is sending forth real blossoms.
That is why making these bowls is a tremendously laborious process. To create the "Sakura" bowl’s fascinating impact, the glassmakers and engravers of the Artel crystal glass manufacturer in Prague have to master seven steps with meticulous precision.

Each bowl is mouthblown and coated with a further layer of white crystal glass. Then the engravers contour the stems and blossoms by removing most of the second glass layer in a sandblasting process.
To create the matt pearly lustre, the glass is etched; then each blossom is engraved by hand. Finally, the Artel glassmakers put the finishing touches to the "Sakura" bowl by hand-painting the blossoms and stems, and hand-gilding the stamens in the centres of the flowers. The three-dimensional effect of the lovely cherry blossoms tinged in white and pink on Artel’s "Sakura" bowl is stunning.

"Sakura" is Japanese for the Japanese cherry blossom. As an important part of Japanese culture, it is a symbol of spring and a metaphor for feminine beauty.