Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Vista Alegre: Exploring the art of crystal
Renowned for its exceptional porcelain, Vista Alegre is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. But the company is also commemorating another milestone: the 80th anniversary of its glass and crystal factory, which maintains an artisanal approach to production.
The movements are at once precise, rapid, and delicate; they flow together with agility and regularity. Like a well-orchestrated ballet, each participant moves through space, juggling with fire. With the help of a blowpipe held perfectly straight, they continuously blow molten glass paste to create luxurious pieces. In the hot end, where 100 craftspeople work—about 70 making crystal and 25 making glass—vases, glasses, flasks, and decanters are ground, cut, and polished. Before polishing, each carafe is tested to ensure that it meets capacity standards—precision is essential. Those that fail the test are shattered and melted down to be made again.
Depending on the orders and projects underway, pieces might then be hand marked before being cut, sandblasted, engraved with a copper pen or wheel, or ground with diamond cutting wheels to create decorative motifs. Later, they may also be hand painted, decorated with overlays, acid polished, or embellished using a UV collage technique, implying the addition of other elements such as zamak, porcelain, or earthenware. It takes an average of four weeks to create a carafe.
Superior-quality crystal and ancient techniques
Nazaré, a former fishing village in Portugal, has earned a reputation as a legendary surf spot, but the surrounding area is worth a visit for an entirely different kind of activity. About ten minutes from the coastal resort, in the industrial area of Casal da Areia, in Alcobaça, the Vista Alegre Atlantis crystal and glass factory stands out for its craft expertise. Initially established to ensure production of chandeliers and glassware for the home, the site, created in 1944—which joined the Vista Alegre group following its fusion with Atlantis in 2001—began producing crystal in 1972 using traditional and manual Portuguese craft techniques. In 2013, the group updated its glassmaking machinery, combining manual and semi-automatic production to handle small and medium series. Today, the 20,000m2 factory employs about 330 people.
Source : Formes de Luxe