Rocca di cristallo is an Italian term for what?

• A. A rock crystal in Italian, which cristallo glass resembled.
• B. A glass form used in crystal chandeliers.
• C. A gemstone used in jewelry.
• D. A mineral used as pigment.

Answer: (A)

Rocca di cristallo means rock crystal in Italian. Here, rocca is “rock” and cristallo is “crystal,” referring to the natural mineral quartz known as rock crystal. In glassmaking, the term cristallo was used for a type of colorless, highly transparent glass designed to imitate that mineral, which is why you’ll see a link between the phrase and cristallo glass. The expression itself points to the natural rock crystal rather than a gemstone, a pigment, or a specific chandelier glass form.