Val St. Lambert Cobalt and Clear Cut-Crystal Vase
First established in 1825 by chemist Francois Kremlin and Ausgte Lievre, Val St. Lambert glassworks was housed in the former abbey of Val St. Lambert at Seraing-sur-Meuse, in what we now know as Belgium, according to Lesley Jackson in her book 20th Century Factory Glass. When the glassworks was first established, it produced basic glass products and tableware, but soon it began producing lead crystal for a high-end market and eventually became one of the most famous glassworks worldwide.
A national reputation
Jackson describes how, during the 1800s, Val St. Lambert was able to establish itself as one of the leading glassworks in Belgium. No longer producing solely basic tableware and small products, the glassworks expanded its repertoire to produce many types of ornamental glass as well as functional glass pieces such as items used in laboratories.
Expanding the offerings
In 1879, says Jackson, the Societe Anonyme des Cristalleries du Val St. Lambert was created after the glassworks acquired Companie Anonyme des Cristalleries et Verrieres Namuroises. In 1883, Val St. Lambert acquired yet another company that specialized in producing functional pieces such as lampshades and lamp chimneys, tubes that surrounded the wicks of oil lamps. By the end of the century, Val St. Lambert was an established glassworks specializing in tableware, lighting, stained, and ornamental glass and known for incorporating techniques such as cut, engraved, and etched glasses.
Influence of Art Nouveau
With the turn of the century came the influence of Art Nouveau on the glassworks. Incorporating the floral motifs and elaborate scenery that was typical of Art Nouveau, famous designers and architects of the time began designing pieces for Val St. Lambert.
In the earlier 1900s, another technique was incorporated into the firm’s products. From 1906 to 1907, Desire and Henri Muller created various vases using flu gravure, a technique involving “acid etching a vessel already painted with patches of colored enamel” (Jackson). After the first World War, a more basic style was adopted, incorporating more cut glass and “battuto” decoration, creating an effect to make the glass look as if it had been hit repeatedly with a hammer.
Redefining the world of cut glass
In the interwar period, Val St. Lambert continued to produce pieces with cut (also known as intaglio engraved) glass patterns. However, Charles Graffart, who began designing for the factory in 1906 at the tender age of 12, soon redefined the world of cut glass. Eventually becoming a master engraver, Graffart was able to engrave designs such as biblical scenes, classical scenes and even portraits into the glass, which proved very different from the strict geometrical designs previously created by the glassworks (Jackson).
Although cut crystal tableware accounted for most of Val St. Lambert’s product through the end of the century, various designers would freelance for the company, bringing something new to the table. Towards the end of the 20th century Val St. Lambert lost popularity and shrank from an enterprise employing more than 1500 people in 1975 to a small workforce of 100 in 1980.
Even though the glassworks may not be experiencing its heyday at present, its accomplishments in the early 1900s have secured it a place in history as a famous producer of beautifully intricate cut glass.
Want to know more?
We suggest the following resources:
- Jackson, Lesley. “20th Century Factory Glass.”
- Val St. Lambert Cobalt and Clear Cut-Crystal Vase in our store.
- All Val St. Lambert products in our store.
