Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The glass-crystallery of Vannes-le-Châtel was founded in 1765 by the Countess of Mazirot de Reims, in the village of Allamps (Lorraine), in order to enhance its forest resources. It was ceded in 1788 to Nicolas Griveau, but its real boom began under the Schmid family (1823–1908), which modernized the infrastructure with tailories, worker housing and an acid engraving workshop. The constructions intensified, marking the industrial development of the site.

In the 20th century, the Bourbonneux family (1908–1960) continued to expand, adding a chapel and a hall. In 1960, glassware merged with other sites to form the Compagnie Française du Cristal, which became a subsidiary of Financière Saint-Germain in 2009. Despite economic threats, the site, covering 40,000 m2, still produces crystal and decorative pieces under the brands Daum and Cristal de Sèvres.

Classified as part of the General Inventory of Cultural Heritage (IGPC) since 1999, the crystallary illustrates the evolution of glassmaking techniques in Lorraine, combining artisanal heritage and industrial adaptations. Its history also reflects the challenges of local industries in the face of globalization, with peaks in employment (650 workers in 1978) and successive restructuring.

The company, now branch of the Daum Crystalry in Nancy (since 1986), continues a bicentennial know-how. Its productions, combining utility and artistic, have marked the Toulois economy, a region historically linked to metallurgy and the arts of fire.

Collection

Une salle d'exposition et de vente propose quelques pièces originales. On peut y venir voir travailler les souffleurs de verre dans les ateliers.

External links