Glassmaking techniques added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Lalique Factory Alsace - Hot Glass Factory

Late in 2023, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, met in Kasane (Botswana), and decided to add glassmaking techniques to the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In September 2024, Lalique, among other glassmakers, will celebrate this achievement through a public photo exhibition depicting glassmaking techniques, displayed on the railings of the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.

For over a century, Lalique has been synonymous with unrivalled expertise. This is already recognised by the prestigious Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (EPV) label. This is a mark of recognition from the French nation, set up to distinguish French companies with excellent craft and industrial skills.

This inscription on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is the result of many years of unwavering commitment from Lalique, alongside its glass and crystal making counterparts, with the aim of promoting the beauty, diversity, and creativity of French glassmaking among the general public. Lalique would like to congratulate its employees who work hard day after day to safeguard the excellence of this know-how.

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 glass-blowing 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 glass or crystal objects is a miracle of dexterity and can involve up to twenty skilled crafts.

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 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 Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is a true source of pride. Lalique 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.