The Industrial Arts in SpainRiaño, Juan F. (Juan Facundo)
History
The Industrial Arts in Spain
Riaño, Juan F. (Juan Facundo)
Decorative arts -- Spain -- History; Pottery -- Spain -- History
I have been unable to find the glass industries of this period mentioned
by any contemporary author, but I owe to the courtesy of S^{r}. Romero
Ortiz some interesting details which have been taken from the archives
of certain villages, which although of a more modern date prove that
this industry existed in these localities. At about 14 miles from the
Puebla de D^{n}. Fadrique, there is a locality called Pinar de la
Vidriera, where traces of ovens and scoriæ exist belonging to an
ancient glass manufactory, which is likewise mentioned in documents of
the municipality as continuing to work in 1620. At Castril de la Peña, a
manufactory yet exists where glass is still made, and which has existed
from time immemorial in the village. The building itself is decorated
with the escutcheon of the family of Hernando de Zafra, one of the
secretaries of Queen Isabel, late in the 15th century, who must have
purchased it with other lands which he possessed there, towards the year
1492. A gallery, one mile long, which exists at the entrance of the town
from whence the sand has been extracted for this manufacture, gives an
idea of the antiquity of this industry in this particular locality. It
has been calculated that about two tons of sand were used at these glass
works every month. At Royo Molino, in the province of Jaen, a very
ancient building still exists, now half in ruins, which has been used
until very lately as a glass factory. At Maria, in the province of
Almeria, several glass manufactories have existed. The oldest, it is
believed, was about two miles from the town, and is called traditionally
"del Campo," but I have not found mention of it in any document. Three
glass ovens existed inside the town: one was established by Vicente
Botia, towards the year 1750, which lasted until 1790. Juan Martinez
established at about this period an industry of a similar kind near the
former one, which continued to work until 1854. The same green glass has
been constantly made in these localities, the same forms have been
copied, the only difference between the older and more modern specimens
consisting in the coarser and heavier quality of the glass.
[Illustration: PILGRIMS' GLASS BOTTLE.--SPANISH, 17TH CENTURY.]
In treating of the glass manufactures in Spain, where Italian models
were imitated to a very great extent, we find very few allusions in
contemporary authors of the Middle Ages; it may be because glass vessels
were chiefly used with wooden and pottery utensils by the poorer
classes, and metal utensils of all kinds by those who were able to
afford them. At any rate, it is only towards the end of the Middle Ages
that we meet with information concerning this industry, which continues
uninterrupted until the present day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account