Glass Information and Education

Seventeenth Century Glass 1 2 3

So do you have any thoughts on 17th Century Glass? And saying its old doesn't count.

During the seventeenth century influence of Venetian glass declined in European glasshouses. Throughout Europe the seventeenth century, saw the rise of different styles of glass-making.

Also a change in the nature of the glass produced, as well as a shift in dominance from southern Europe to the Northern Europe. What caused these changes in glass? Social and historical factors caused this change to come about.

Political and Social Factors Affect Glass

The rise of Protestantism and of a prosperous class in the Low Countries along with the decline in power of the Papacy affected the nature of glass produced. Also the minor political importance of Italy during the seventeenth century changed the way of glass production.

In glass now Italy no longer had a monopoly. This applied both to glass innovation and patronage.

In the past, glass had been used to create elaborate and fantastic works of art. These glass works had very little practical value and were so fragile that they did not survive intact for to long.

Glass Aesthetics vs. Practicality

During the 17th century a wide range of new glass techniques arose. The glass objects produced could be described as robust but were now more aesthetically pleasing. If you wanted to put it in other terms a treaty was made between the practical and aesthetic in glass.