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 History
of La Rochère Glass and Crystal Works
Founded in 1475, LA ROCHERE Glass and Crystal
Works is located in a region where, for technical and political
reasons, glass working began to develop in the 15th century.
Technical reasons
- Sand produced by the erosion of Vosges sandstone was extracted
along streams or from open quarries.
- Wood from the Forest of Darney was used to stoke the furnaces.
- Fern cinders (rich in potassium) were used as "flux",
in other words as a means of lowering the melting point of
glass.
Political reasons
- Disputes raged between the Duchies of Burgundy and Lorraine.
The Dukes of Lorraine strengthened their presence by installing
glassmakers in this frontier region and bestowing upon them
the status and privileges granted to nobility: exemption from
tax and military service. These rights and duties were passed
down to their heirs.
History
In 1475, Simon de Thysac founded a glass-works at La Rochère.
He produced "sheet glass", in other words glass
for windows. A glass cylinder was blown, then cut in two lengthwise
and spread out. This manufacturing secret was kept under solemn
oath by each generation in turn.
In 1867 it was acquired by François Xavier Fouillot,
whose descendant Antoine GIRAUD is now Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. The glass-works then began producing glass
tableware: drinking glasses, decanters, salt-cellars and flasks
for cafés and restaurants. Techniques used: blowing
by mouth, casting, engraving and cutting. The La Rochère
glass-works supplies primarily cafés and restaurants.
Until 1967, the traditional activity was based on production
of "hand-made, mouth-blown" glasses and decanters
for cafés and restaurants.
However, in 1967, because mechanical processes were developing
rapidly and used by competitors, the management decided to
take a new direction by developing collections designed for
the Table Art and Decoration market.
At the same time, the company invested heavily in furnaces
and machines to modernise its production equipment and manufacture
glass mechanically in large and medium series. This proved
to be a very successful conversion.
In 1999, the search for higher performance levels led to
the development of a new furnace and new mechanical production
lines, providing much higher performance levels and opening
up new markets.
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