Cartagena and the Spanish glass industry, 1834-1908

Abstract

This article is a contribution to the knowledge of Spanish glass industry by studying the evolution of the Fabrica de Cristal y Vidrio de Santa Lucia (Cartagena) during the 19th century. The evolution of this company is analysed in the context of the Spanish sector; and had three phases: firstly, un impulse during the 1840's and 18503, secondly, market and competition problems in the last decades of the 19th century, and finally, its restructuring at the beginning of the 20th century, which ended with un intense process of concentration and internationalization that affected plane glass and hollow glass. Likewise, industrial location factors, regional distribution of the production, and changes that occurred in its various branches between 1856 and I905 are reported. Data reveal the leading role of this factory from Cartagena in the glass industry and, particularly, its specialization in crystal, glassware of best quality, and white cut glass during the Restoration period.