VAL ST. LAMBERT, VINTAGE CRYSTAL LIQUEUR GLASSES, C. 1950-60

This Is Indeed A Quality Set of Liqueur Stemware! The set was blown and is cut crystal by the Val St. Lambert factories of Belgium during the 1950-1960 periods. Although unmarked, many of their pieces left the factories with only a foil signature. Some of their pieces did have acid etched signatures in conjunction with a foil signature.

Each stemware measure 2 3/4" High. The bowl of this stemware is of an interesting “barrel” shape.

COMMENT: Exceptional quality! Can easily make a classy and tasteful gift!

CONDITION: Excellent except that one glass has a chip to its base which is illustrated in the photo. 

HISTORY OF VAL SAINT LAMBERT

Val Saint Lambert, Val St Lambert or Val St. Lambert is the most renowned of the Belgium factories. It originated in the old abbey that was named Val Saint Lambert in 1825. In 1826 two brothers bought the old abbey and began a crystal factory that became world acclaimed. By 1914 or the start of WW I, this glass factory employed approximately 5,000 workers and were producing over 160,000 pieces of crystal daily for export. Over 90% of its glass produced was for export world wide.
Val St Lambert crystal was exceptional and became known for its “purity and exceptional brilliance”.
Designers range from Henri Fourage in 1883 to Philippe Starck in 1999.

Val St. Lambert was an eminent exhibitor at the Brussels Exhibition in 1897 as well as at the Paris Exhibition in 1925. As a matter of fact, they were one of the proponents of Art Deco in their styles of glass at this exhibit.

Over the years, Val St Lambert was famous for its car mascots, lampshades, stemware, bowls, vases, and punch bowls.

As with many glass and china factories, Val St Lambert struggled during the Depression years to stay in business. Because of their great designers and astute business managers they constantly changed their designs and produced some utilitarian pieces to bring in cash. Such pieces included ash trays, storage jars and smaller pieces that were attainable and affordable for the novice buyer and was mass produced. This is not to say that they did not still produce the opulent pieces which the wealthy buyer craved.

Around the late 1980’s, they sold out to a new Belgium manager who brought it to the top once again and today, this factory is at the top with its world competitors.

Sadly, the Val St Lambert Museum is now closed and all assets have gone toward the present factory and rare pieces sold at auctions and to private collectors, some of whom worked at the factory. However this is not to say that the quality of glass produced today is inferior- quite the contrary, as always, it is of supreme quality. For awhile, the colored crystal ceased production from about the mid 1960’s to the mid 1980’s but today, it is once again very alive and continues to soar in production and is avidly purchased and collected by the affluent.