Saint-Louis is delighted to inform you of the inscription of glassmaking techniques on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This global recognition is an immense source of pride for all its craftspeople and partners.
Glassmaking techniques inscribed on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
On the 6th of December 2023, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, meeting in Kasane (Botswana), decided to add glassmaking techniques to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
This nomination, summited by the French Ministry of Culture, was defended jointly with the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, and Spain.
Glassmaking techniques refer to handcrafted glass products and traditional practices for producing glass and crystal. They cover the creation of the material, hot glass forming techniques such as glassblowing or the use of a blowtorch, and lastly, cutting, and cold-working decoration. The result of collective hard work, in which each person has a role to play, producing crystal objects is a miracle of dexterity and can involve up to twenty skilled crafts.
This inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is the result of several years of unwavering commitment from Saint-Louis alongside fellow glassmakers and crystal makers, with the aim of promoting the beauty, diversity, and creativity of French glassmaking among the general public. Saint-Louis would like to congratulate their teams who work hard day after day to safeguard the excellence of this know-how.
In France, four thousand women and men apply glassmaking techniques every day. Dissemination of those techniques in the manufacturing process has led to a true sense of community between experienced craftspeople and apprentices, channelled into ongoing technical innovation and creativity. At the heart of this practice, a commitment to passing on skills, along with the unwavering values of high standards and creativity, are the driving force for glassmakers and crystal makers.
For France, glassworks and crystal works are true gems of traditional craftsmanship or industrial skill, showcasing rare know-how in a variety of fields including perfume bottle production, tableware, lighting, and the decorative arts, as well as the pharmaceutical sector and automotive industry.
For ten thousand years, humans have been shaping glass objects for everyday life. Given the challenges of climate change and the need to modify the way we work, the entire industry is committed to transforming its practices to make the precious know-how of glassmakers more environmentally friendly than ever.
Being included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is a true source of pride. Saint-Louis pledges to pass on the passion for glassmaking know-how and to make it known to the younger generations. Sparking their interest in these forward-looking professions is key to ensuring their long-term survival.
In September 2024, Saint-Louis will celebrate this achievement through a public photo exhibition depicting glassmaking techniques, displayed on the railings of the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.
