Two-handled glass pitcher from the Real Fábrica de la Granja; Baroque period; 1727-1787.

Two-handled glass pitcher from the Real Fábrica de la Granja; Baroque period; 1727-1787.
Glass.
Provenance: Collection of Eleuterio Laguna.
Measurements: 29 x 16 x 10 cm.
Jug with handles that are made of colorless transparent glass. The piece has a gilded decoration of vegetal character. The piece belongs to the collection Eleuterio Laguna, which was gathered in the museum of the Episcopal Palace of Segovia, however the museum closed.
The Royal Glass and Crystal Factory of La Granja was a royal manufacture founded in the Royal Site of San Ildefonso (Segovia) by Philip V, in 1727. Its first director, and therefore founder, was Buenaventura Sit, who with funding from the crown created a small furnace for the manufacture of flat glass, in order to supply the Palace of La Granja windows and mirrors. This type of large flat glass was very expensive at the time, so it was more economical for the crown to create its own factory, rather than import them. In fact, this need for large sheets of glass led to important technical research that culminated in improvements in the technique of casting in 1737, which will allow the manufacture of glass larger than 3.5 x 2 m. Production was extended to artistic glass in 1746 with the arrival of the French master glassmaker Dionisio Sibert, who introduced lead to create crystal. Shortly thereafter, in 1750, the German Juan Eder began the manufacture of glass entrefinos, with potassium-based glass instead of the traditional Hispanic sodium. These potassium glasses were brighter and more resistant, allowing a higher quality carving. Finally in 1836 the Royal Treasury will officially take over the facilities.