Today we tell you the story of Colle Val d'Elsa, the capital of Italian crystal .
It is an ancient medieval town built on a hill in Tuscany, with inestimable artistic and cultural value .
It is nicknamed "Bohemia of Italy" or "City of Crystal", because today it produces 95% of Italian crystal and 14% of the world's.
In this article we will discover the origins of the centuries-old story glassmaker that characterizes Colle Val d'Elsa, and we will present a laboratory dedicated entirely to the recovery of glass located in the heart of this small Tuscan village, where the glassmaking tradition meets the concept of sustainability .
The glassmaking tradition of Colle Val d'Elsa
The origins of the glassmaking tradition of Colle Val d'Elsa have their roots in the Middle Ages , when local artisans began producing glass vases and glasses.
Since the surrounding area was rich in resources , the masters of manual art thought of exploiting them in order to obtain the material that would later become the archetype of this ancient village: glass .
They used silica sand, quartzite, carbonate and magnesium (of which the refractory earth was abundant), the large quantity of water and wood, to create resistant and valuable works .
In 1800 the French craftsman Francesco Mathis built the first crystal factory, allowing the glass industry to take off.
Since that time , enormous quantities of glass and crystal have been produced, both mass-produced items and one-off pieces. All these creations have become increasingly refined and refined over time, and have led Colle Val d'Elsa to qualify as one of the most relevant centers in the world in the field of glassware .
Today it is full of glassworks and laboratories where glass is produced, recycled, processed and shaped, carrying on a centuries-old tradition that will struggle to die out.
A laboratory for glass recovery in the heart of Colle
There is no doubt that glass is the ecological material par excellence , thanks to its extraordinary chemical-physical properties which allow it to be endlessly recycled .
But statistical analyzes show that every year 8 billion bottles are thrown into the recycling bins after not even a single use, causing a huge waste of money and a significant emission of CO2 into the environment .
This is where the idea of Amarzo was born: recovering glass destined for recycling, working it by hand to create new products and reduce the environmental impact to zero .
Thus our laboratory was born in the heart of Colle Val d'Elsa, a place that does justice to the Tuscan glassmaking tradition , but at the same time gives glass the possibility of rebirth .
After having obtained the bottles from the shelves, we transport them to our laboratory, sterilize them and carry out cuts using special machines.
In this way we are going to modify the shape of what are now former bottles, to give life to original and ecological handcrafted objects.
The message that Amarzo wants to convey is to invite people to reuse before recycling , in order to respect nature and protect it from yet another dose of easily avoidable pollution.
Amarzo's glass creations
From the desire to defend the environment and do justice to the unmistakable Italian craftsmanship, Amarzo's creations are born: works of 100% recovered glass , created with care, attention and imagination by expert master craftsmen.
These are designer objects and accessories for the home , versatile and durable, high quality products that you can use in a variety of ways, giving free rein to your own creativity .
Jugs and windows to fill with drinks of all kinds or with scented flowers to place in every corner of your home.
Trays and spoons in which to store delicious dishes, precious jewels or to use as pocket emptier.
Pen holders and ashtrays perfect for furnishing your personal office with elegance and refinement.
Set of creative glasses in the typical shades of glass: ivory black, bright green and pastel yellow, with which to decorate your table.
In short, you're just spoiled for choice!
We hope as always that this article has been useful to you.
If you are looking for other curiosities about the world of glass and eco-sustainability, see our blog .
If, however, you want to purchase Amarzo's creations to embrace our environmental protection project and support Italian craftsmanship, take a look at the products in our shop .
Article by Sofia Tamborra