From 1769, the extraction of coal in Montcenis made the establishment of a foundry possible in 1781, in a neighbouring hamlet called Le Creusot. At that same time, the fashion of lead crystal, coming from England, spread in royal courts and in wealthy circles throughout Europe.
The new “Manufacture des Cristaux de la Reine” located in Sèvres, near Paris chose to install its workshops in Le Creusot due to abundant and cheap coal supplies. A large U-shaped building was erected on the heights of town, overlooking the foundry to incorporate workshops, warehouses, administration and housing for workers on the same site. Nearby, two conic brick buildings accommodated the furnaces.
Named "Royal Crystal and Glass Manufactory of Queen Marie Antoinette" the new factory soon flourishes, producing ordinary glass but mainly luxury crystal products. The company specializes in opaline production (or opal crystal), a decorative style of opaque and coloured glass objects (vases, bowls, cups, coupes, decanters, perfume bottles, boxes, clocks) and in small objects with a decorative inlaid ceramic patterns. The popularity of opaline brings clients from France, Europe but also Russia and America.
Exemples de cristaux fabriqués au Creusot
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Pendule Restauration, vers 1820, Le Creusot, Musée de l... -
Calice en cristal, Le Creusot, Musée de l'homme et de l... -
Coffret à parfums en cristal et bronze doré, vers 1810,... -
Pot à eau en cristal taillé, vers 1825, Le Creusot, Musée... -
Vase en cristal et bronze doré, vers 1810, Le Creusot,... -
Service à liqueur en cristal, Le Creusot, Musée de l... -
Verre en cristal taillé, vers 1820, Le creusot, Musée de... -
Pendule en cristal et bronze doré, vers 1830, Le Creusot,...
In the early 1830s, the crystal factory encounters difficulties and ends up being sold by its owners. It is finally acquired by Baccarat and Saint-Louis in 1832, at a time when the glass and crystal industry are declining in Le Creusot.
The multipurpose buildings are then used to accommodate miners and workers of the foundry. In 1837, the Schneider brothers, the new owners of the forges purchase the buildings and Eugène Schneider decides to make it his residence in Le Creusot. Refurbishment work is undertaken to transform the former glass and crystal factory into a prestigious residence, baptised The Chateau de la Verrerie.
Nowadays, the Château de la Verrerie houses the Museum of Man and Industry, which plunges visitors into the industrial history of the area. The permanent exhibition presents an impressive collection of opalines, glassware and crystal objects highlighting the expertise, the quality and the variety of products manufactured by the factory in Le Creusot.