Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja facts for kids
The Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja is a famous glass factory in San Ildefonso, near Segovia, Spain. Its name means "Royal Factory of Glass and Crystal of La Granja." This factory was built a long time ago, in the 1700s, by the Spanish royal family. It is about 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Segovia.
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History of the Royal Glass Factory
How the Factory Started
The factory was started in 1727 by Philip V of Spain. He was the king at that time. The king provided money for a skilled craftsman named Ventura Sit. Sit was from Catalonia, a region in Spain.
Ventura Sit built a small oven to make glass. This glass was called float glass. It was used for windows and mirrors. These were needed for the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso. The palace was being built during the 1720s.
Sit had worked at another glass factory before. That factory failed because it did not have enough fuel. But at La Granja, there was plenty of wood. This wood came from the nearby Sierra de Guadarrama mountains. Some workers from the old factory moved to La Granja to work here.
Growth and European Influence
Many expert glassmakers from other parts of Europe came to La Granja. They brought new ways of making glass. Because of where these experts came from, three main glass factories were set up. These were the Spanish, French, and German factories.
There were also different workshops and a large storage building in Madrid. The best glass made here was in the Venetian style. This beautiful glass was produced in the late 1700s.
Challenges and Changes
In 1808, the factory had to stop working. This was because of the Spanish War of Independence. The ovens were turned off.
Later, in 1815, King Ferdinand VII ordered the factory to start again. In 1822, a man named Bartolome Sureda y Miserol became the director. He had managed other royal factories before.
Visitors could watch glass being blown and shaped at the factory. The beautiful glass products from this royal factory were sent to the Americas. This caused problems for other countries that also sold glass there.
By 1833, the factory was struggling financially. The queen, Maria Cristina, allowed parts of the factory to be rented out. In 1836, the government took over the factory. Unlike some other royal factories, this one could not support itself financially.
National Glass Centre Foundation
Reviving Glass Traditions
In 1982, a new organization was created. It was called the National Glass Centre Foundation. Its goal was to bring back the old traditions of the Royal Glass Factory. This foundation was set up in the original 18th-century factory building.
In 1994, a law officially recognized the foundation. Its main purpose is to promote and develop glassmaking. It also focuses on education, research, and sharing the history of glass art. The foundation supports other cultural and scientific activities related to glass art.
The Glass Technology Museum
The Glass Technology Museum is located inside the old Royal Glass Factory. This is the only factory building that still stands today. It was designed in 1770 by Joseph Díaz Gamones.
The building was constructed outside the walls of La Granja. It has a basilica shape and faces south. It features two large brick domes over the melting furnaces. These replaced older wooden frames that often caused fires. This building is considered one of the most important industrial buildings in Europe from the 18th century. It is recognized as an important cultural asset.
See also
In Spanish: Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja para niños
