Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja ("Royal Factory of Glass and Crystal of La Granja") was a Spanish royal manufacturing factory built in San Ildefonso (in Sergovia, 7 miles (11 km) south east on the N 601), in the 18ᵗʰ century.
It was established in 1727 by Philip V of Spain. In that year, funded by the crown, the Catalan artisan Buenaventura Sit installed a small oven which manufactured float glass for the windows and mirrors of the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso, which was under construction in the 1720s. Sit had previously worked at Nuevo Baztan where a glass factory failed because of inadequate fuel supplies. At La Granja there was an abundant supply of wood for the factory in the Sierra de Guadarrama.
Bartolome Sureda y Miserol, previously director of the Real Fabrica de Porcelana del Buen Retiro, the Real Fabrica de Pano in Guadalajara, and the Real Fabrica de Loza de la Moncloa, became director of the Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja in 1822. Glass blowing and glassware production could be viewed at the factory. The wares of the royal factory were exported to the Americas, which caused financial losses to the other countries who exported as well. By 1836, with the royal factory experiencing financial hardship, the Royal Treasury formally took over the facility which, unlike other royal factories, failed to financially support itself.
To revive the traditions of the Royal Glass Factory, the National Glass Centre Foundation was established in 1982 in the eighteenth-century building. The Ministerial Order of 1989 was formalized by law in 1994, its basic objective being “the promotion, development, education, research and dissemination of craftsmanship and history of glass manufacture artistic and other cultural and scientific activities related to art and art glass.”
A LA GRANJA GLASS BOWL AND COVER
Spain (San Ildefonso c1775)
A LA GRANJA GILT ETCHED GLASS VASE AND COVER
Spain (San Ildefonso c1750-c1770)
A LA GRANJA GLASS TANKARD AND COVER
Spain (San Ildefonso c1790)
TWO LA GRANJA GLASS EWERS AND A TWO-HANDLED VASE
Spain (San Ildefonso c1790)
A LA GRANJA GLASS JAR AND COVER
Spain (San Ildefonso c1775)
