The museum documents the history of crystal craftsmanship in Colle Val d’Elsa from the nineteenth century to the present day. The largest section reconstructs the path taken by the glass industry in Colle from 1820, the year the first furnace was established, to the full realization of lead crystal in 1963. One area is dedicated to pre-industrial production with some glass artifacts dating back to the 14th-15th centuries and historical references to glassmaking activity in Valdelsa during the Middle Ages. Special attention has been given to design pieces and those engraved with the ancient copper wheel technique. The other important section is the technological one, where the traditional work environment – with a life-size reproduction of a furnace viewed in cross-section – is juxtaposed with the modern automated one. The museum journey concludes with the Crystal Forest, an interpretation of the emotions and magic of the material the museum is dedicated to.
Information on the Crystal Museum
Via dei Fossi, 8/a
Colle di Val d’Elsa (Siena)
0577924135
info@cristallo.org
Source: MIBACT
