Spanish Glass 1550–1850
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of approximately 125 items of Spanish glass which date from between 1550 and 1850. This collection contains clear and coloured glass vases, bottles, jugs, tumblers and toys and is the largest collection of Spanish glass in any UK museum apart from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The vast majority of the collection, 112 pieces in all, was bought as one purchase in 1897 from the widow of the Spanish collector Juan de Riaño. With the addition of six La Granja wine glasses acquired in 1977, the collection is broadly representative of Spanish glassmaking from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Southern Spanish products are well represented, with vases, flasks and bottles from Maria and Granada in Andalusia. However the largest group is from Catalonia, including an interesting series of specifically Spanish forms, such as 'càntirs', 'porons' and 'almorratxas'. There are also two fine candlesticks from Mataró, along with decanters, vases, and Venetian-style and milk-glass drinking vessels from the Royal factory of La Granja de San Ildefonso, near Madrid.
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