Spanish Glass in the Hermitage [antikvár]

Spanish glass-making occupies a peculiar position in the history of European glass. In spiteof the fact that, in the course of its evolution, Spanish glass-making was influenced bythe art of other countries, and owes much in the way of artistic and technological developmentto foreign glass industry, more especially to that of the Arabian countries and Italy (Venice),the work of Spanish glass-blowers can be known at first glance by its strongly expressed nationalcharacter. The objects are distinguished by a plastic quality, an originality of shapes, and a loveof the ornamental which never fail to arrest attention.The Hermitage collection of Spanish glass is one of the most important outside Spain. It isremarkable both for its richness (over 250 items) and for the high artistic quality of the objects,the productions of Catalonian, Andalusian and Castilian glass houses and the Royal glass manu-facture of La Granja de San Ildefonso, dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Many of theobjects are unique of their kind. The collection is fairly representative, which makes it possibleto trace the evolution of Spanish glass-making over a considerable period, and to reveal thestylistic features characteristic of each individual province.Particularly well represented is the art of Andalusian glass houses of the 16th to the 19th centuries,which is a true quintessence of national traditions in Spanish glass-making. It is illustrated byan extensive group of objects totalling 100. Endless diversity of forms, astonishing originality ofdesign, and the use of complex technology, testify to a high professional standard of Andalusianglass-blowers. The many-handled vases, a peculiarly Andalusian form, enjoyed the greatestpopularity. They were generally blown in greenish glass, and have thick walls, lavishly decoratedwith trailed pincered bands, chains, prunts, cords, etc. Upon examination, they appear imperfectin shape, and give an impression of having been made in a hurry. The glass itself seems ofinferior quality, not clear, and full of tiny air bubbles. And nevertheless the high artistic qualityof the vases is doubtless.The Catalonian glass, illustrated by 52 specimens, reveals the existence of two trends,imitationof Italian glass manufactured in the "Venetian fashion", and the strongly national Spanishmanner based on folk art. Most of the Catalonian glass objects in the Hermitage collection weremade in the 18th century. It is to be much regretted that some of the Catalonian techniquesare not reflected in the materials of the collection, as, for instance, enamel painting, diamondpoint engraving, or the so-called "frosted glass".Castile was the third province of Spain which occupied an important place in Spanish glass-making. The production of Castilian glass houses is illustrated in the Hermitage collection by28 specimens, mainly assigned to the 18th century. The majority of these objects were madeafter the pattern of the glass manufactured at the famous Royal factory of La Granja de SanIldefonso, which played a leading role in the subsequent evolution of Spanish glass production.Founded in 1736 near Segovia, this factory was intended to meet the fast-growing demands ofthe Spanish court. La Granja de San Ildefonso put out a great variety of objects, and was, ofall the glass houses of Spain, nearest to the European glass industry. The 60 objects from