The crystal
- The Crystal in Colle di Val d'Elsa. Between museum, art and production
Visit Colle di Val d’Elsa following the traces of its traditional crystal craftsmanship. The artisans, the museum, the contemporary artworks, live demonstrations in the Town of Crystal.
Crystal in Colle, yesterday and today
from tradition to innovation
The tradition of crystal in Colle is ancient and, at the same time, extremely current. Documents attest that glassmaking here dates back to the 14th century, but it was in the 19th century that production became truly significant, eventually becoming the town’s driving industry.
The history of Colle’s glass industry is a story of innovation: in 1963, lead was added to the glass mixture, giving rise to 24% lead crystal. It was precisely this variety that marked the success of Colle’s industry, which over time came to account for 95% of Italian crystal production and 15% of global production. During those same years, the first designers also arrived in Colle, bringing new ideas for the creation of traditional tableware.
Over time, production has continued to evolve; today, lead has been replaced by other elements, allowing for full recyclability and a rigorous commitment to environmental sustainability.
Innovation and tradition: all of this can be found in the town and admired both inside the Crystal Museum and through its tourist and hospitality activities, thanks to the Shine Colle project, which made it possible to create a sort of open-air museum throughout the town.
To admire live the moment in which the magical transparency of crystal is born, let yourself be fascinated by glassblowing demonstrations: they are organised every first Sunday of the month at the Fornino in Castello, or it is possible to contact local companies directly to check the availability of demonstrations at their premises.