PT25 HA Traditions from the pine forest to the glass

The history of Marinha Grande is deeply related to the development of the glass industry, mostly by the hand of Guilherme Stephens.​

In 1769 he bought the old factory of John Beare that was operating since 1748, as well as the attached properties. Therefore he was able to build a new factory, benefiting from the support of Marquis de Pombal, who even offered wood from the pine forest of Leiria, as we can read in the inscription of the Glass Museum.​

The former house of the owner was located within the factory perimeter, along with several glass-making workshops, leisure facilities, theatre, schools and private gardens, both in front and on the back of the house. Guilherme Stephens and his brother João Diogo lived here. The later was in charge of the factory until his death, in 1826. Built on the second half of the 18th century (1770), this building stands out for its neoclassical style, quite remarkable on the main façade.​

The factory became property of the State after the death of João Diogo Stephens and the idea of creating a museum was born with the decree of 1954, establishing the School Factory Irmãos Stephens. However, the museum only came into life many years later. This process began in 1994 and the architectural project was given to José Fava. The museum opened its doors in 1998, presenting not only the history of glass evolution, as well as other related technological and cultural aspects. In Marinha Grande’s industrial development, hand and artistic glass manufacturing preservation has become a crucial topic. This visit was dedicated to the theme of sustainability and technology.​

It was designed so that students could learn about the technological developments in the production of glass articles, which are inherent to the art and work of glassmakers in Marinha Grande, as well as the sustainable nature of glass. At the Marinha Grande Glass Museum, students visited several rooms with exhibits that present the history and evolution of glass production in Marinha Grande. ​

The museum houses a collection of glass pieces, ranging from utilitarian objects to contemporary works of art. ​In addition to the permanent exhibits, there are also temporary exhibits that highlight different aspects of glass art.​Another attraction that students were able to enjoy was the production of a glass piece using a blowtorch, namely a dolphin. ​

In this way, they were able to see and learn about glassmaking techniques.​