188 MANUFACTURES OF RUSSIA. 



CHAPTER XL 

 Glass 'Wares. 



THE first glass works in Russia were founded 250 years ago during the reign 

 of the first Tsar of the Eomanov family, Mikhail Fedorovich. It was at the 

 time when Bohemia was excelling Venetia in this industry and throwing glass goods 

 of excellent and beautiful quality upon all the European markets. The fall of Ve- 

 netia was approaching, as also the time when the classical industry of that country 

 was to become general, due to the spread of glass workmen over all Europe, to the 

 profit of the contemporary trade of other nations. At the close of that period, 

 namely in the second half of the eighteenth century, the Venetians and Hungarians 

 served in Russia, as well as in other countries, to develop the artistic elements of the 

 glass industry. This important event in Russia was contemporaneous with a general 

 waking up and development of other trade interests. 



During the reign of Peter the Grreat, at the beginning of the eighteenth cen- 

 tury, was founded the Imperial Glass Works, and later on, some special branches 

 of the industry were developed, and several other State factories established. Soon 

 after the death of the first Russian Emperor, during the peaceful period of the 

 reign of Catherine the Great, the real beginning of the glass trade was laid on a 

 firm foundation in Russia, and developed by the aid of the higher classes of society, 

 feeling the influence and impetus given to the industry by Peter the Great. Moreover, 

 certain learned men of the Moscow University founded, by the aid of Empress Eliza- 

 beth, the predecessor of Catherine, and of the Academy of Sciences, did much to push 

 and develop the industry. In the remarkable awakening of Russian trade and manu- 

 facture of that time was seen the character of the epoch ; it was in the second half 

 of the last century, in the days of Watteau, Franklin and Lavoisier. 



The following remarks on the introduction of glass works into Russia, on 

 the general character of the times, and of the different Russian promoters, ' is given 

 by a distinguished writer, who had made a special study of the different trade inter- 

 ests of Russia: 



«The second half of the last century was signalized by the development of 

 the glass industry and by the production of the highest grades of wares, such as 

 crystal, Venetian glass, filigree and glass tissue. The principal motive for the intro- 



