The improvement in glass making techniques made it possible in 16th century Venice to imitate fine, semi-precious rock crystal which was vulnerable to fracturing while being cut and polished. With this risk gone, lighting designers by the early 18th century had a myriad of crystal decorations available to ornament the framework of their chandeliers, the design potential of crystal glass having been fully explored. The flowers and foliage of nature remained a continuing source of design inspiration, and the intricate crystal buds, thrusting delicately outward and upward, continue this tradition on the Cristallo family of fixtures. Exquisite acanthus leaf-work overlaying the central frame and scrolled arms, and the decorative lace-like treatment of the front reinforce the imaginative artistry of the Italian design legacy.