History of a faceted glass. Who invented it and when?

It is quite difficult to find at least one family in the expanses of the former Soviet Union, which would not store a couple, or even more, of faceted glasses in their kitchen cabinets. This ware object is one of the symbols of that distant era. At present, most do not use them anymore, but the hand does not rise. The story of a faceted glass, who invented when - all this information is covered with secrets and legends. In this article, we will try to understand all this.

Legends of the appearance of a faceted glass

Many items and things of Soviet times have a lot of legends about their origin. It was not bypassed and all the famous faceted glass. The history of its creation is shrouded in many legends. Here are just a few of them that go around his appearance.

1. Everyone has a veritable name of the monumentalist Vera Mukhina. This is the same master who designed the sculpture "Worker and Collective Farm Girl". So, according to one of the legends, it was she who was the inventor of the faceted glass. There is an opinion that in this she was helped by her beloved husband, who long liked to miss a glass of another alcoholic drink.
2. Many are inclined to the version on which the Soviet engineer Nikolai Slavyanov applied his hand to the invention of a faceted glass. He was a master of mining, then became a professor of geology. In the circle of his friends and acquaintances, he is known for his discoveries in the field of arc welding and sealing of castings with the help of electricity. It is his merits attributed to the high level of development of the metallurgical industry in the Soviet era. Initially Slavyanov suggested making a glass made of metal, and the variants contained sketches of products with 10, 20 and 30 facets. It was then Mukhina proposed to produce such a glass in glass form.
3. Another legend explains where the glass came from. The history of its creation is connected with the times of Peter the Great. One Vladimir master of glassmaking, Yefim Smolin, presented as a present to the tsar such a glass with assurances that it is almost impossible to smash it. Peter drank wine from it and threw it to the ground, saying the words: "I'll have a glass." But, unfortunately, the glass broke. However, the ruler did not show his anger. Since then, there has been a tradition to beat the dishes in the process of feasting.

Where did the word "glass" come from?

Not only is the history of the faceted glass quite vague and contradictory, but the very name of the subject has several opinions about its origin.

From historical information it is known that in the 17th century there were dishes made of ground small plates, connected by rings, and it was called "delivered". Many people think that the name of the faceted glasses was used for this word.

According to another version, the word has a Turkic origin, in this language there were words such as "dastarkhan", meaning a festive table, and a "toast" - a cup. From the combination of these two words, the name of the glass appeared, which was used.

The First Soviet Glass

The history of the faceted glass in Russia begins in 1943, when the first representative of the army of glasses left the assembly line of the glass factory in Gus-Khrustalny. Many believe that this form is not just a fantasy of the artist, but a necessity.

It turns out that even in those distant times the first dishwashers appeared, which could perform their functions only when the utensils of a certain shape and size were immersed in them. So it was necessary to produce a glass with facets, rather than round walls.

The appearance of a "foreigner" in Russia

According to the historical certificate, in 1943, not the first representative of faceted glasses came off the assembly line of the glass factory in Gus-Khrustalny, but the old one was updated. The history of the faceted glass (16 faces) claims that it appeared a long time ago.

They invented this ware not in the USSR, but also in Russia, in the 17th century. Proof of this are the exhibits kept in the Hermitage.

Confirm the antiquity of the origin of glasses and mention in a special army doctrine, which was published by Paul I in the late 18th century. At that time, the monarch was trying to reform the army, which was far from full combat readiness, and ordered a faceted glass to limit that daily dose of wine that relied on soldiers in the army.

There is an opinion that the history of a faceted glass is not connected with Russia at all. An excellent confirmation of this is the picture by Diego Velasquez called "Breakfast".

On the table you can also see a faceted glass, only the faces are not vertical, but slightly arcuate. If you look at the time of writing the picture, and it was in 1617-1618, then you can confidently say that a faceted glass, its history is not related to Russia, but to foreign countries.

This fact is confirmed by the fact that the method of manufacturing glasses, which was used in the USSR, was invented only in 1820 - the method of pressing. The production with the use of such technology was started already in the middle of the 19th century, and it came to Russia only in the 20th century.

What is the secret of high strength glass?

The Soviet faceted glasses not only had a comfortable shape and did not slip in the hand, but they were also very strong. This was achieved by a decent thickness of the walls, as well as the use of special technologies.

Raw materials for making glass for faceted glasses were cooked at a tremendous temperature in the range of 1400-1600 degrees, then the process of roasting and faceting by special technologies was carried out. There was a period of time when lead was added to the manufacturing mixture to increase strength, which is usually used in the manufacture of crystal dishes.

Manufacture of faceted glasses

At glass factories began to produce glasses of different volume and having a different number of faces. The volume could vary from 50 ml to 250, and the faces were from 8 to 14.

The classic story of a faceted glass is a 250 ml product with 10 faces. With its help, you can accurately measure the right amount of loose and liquid products.

In the 80 years at glass factories, the equipment began to be replaced with imported ones, which led to the loss of the familiar qualities of a faceted glass.

The glass, which until then had been very durable, withstood the temperature drops and falling from the table, began to crack on the sides. Some fell off the bottom. The culprit is a violation of manufacturing technology.

Characteristics of faceted glasses

Despite the fact that much information about who invented the faceted glass, the history and appearance in Russia are also contradictory, yet the characteristics remain the same. And they differ from those of other similar products.

• The diameter of the uppermost part is from 7.2 to 7.3 cm.
• The diameter of the bottom of the glass is 5.5 cm.
• The height of the glass product is 10.5 centimeters.
• The number of faces is often 16 or 20.
• At the top of the glass is an edge, the width of which is from 1.4 to 2.1 cm.

All glasses of the Soviet era, produced at different glass factories, had such characteristics.

Advantage of a faceted glass in front of other similar products

In the expanses of the former Soviet Union, a faceted glass is widely spread, thanks to its advantages over its counterparts.

1. Do not roll off the table, for example, on a seagoing vessel while pitching and moving on the waves.
2. Popularity in public catering establishments is explained by its high strength.
3. Fans of drinking alcohol have chosen this object, because with his help it was easy to divide the bottle for three. If you pour the liquid to the rim, then in one glass is placed just the third part of a half-liter bottle.
4. The glass remains intact when dropped from a decent height. This strength is due precisely to the presence of faces, which give this property to brittle glass.

Modern life of a faceted glass

If in Soviet times a faceted glass was an indispensable attribute of every kitchen, now it is not so easy to find such a dishware item. All can be explained by the fact that most of the glass factories have withdrawn from production these products.

At the factory in Gus-Khrustalnoye, where, as the story of a faceted glass says, the first faceted representative was produced, other glasses are made, which are completely transparent, which can not be said about the facet. Representatives of the Soviet era produced only under the order.

Now for some a faceted glass is an occasion to entertain the public and become famous for yourself. In 2005, at the celebration of the city's day in Izhevsk, a high tower was built almost 2.5 meters high with faceted glasses. 2024 glasses went to such a structure. The idea belonged to one distillery.

Interesting information about a faceted glass

Regardless of the history of the cut glass in Russia, it has always been used not only for its intended purpose. Mistresses of the old school found him sometimes the most unexpected applications.

1. The most well-known use is the cutting with it of blanks for dumplings, pelmeni. If a larger diameter was required, then a large glass was taken, and if necessary, stacks were used. Despite the fact that now there is a mass of devices to facilitate this process, many housewives have never stopped using an old and reliable glass for this.
2. A faceted glass in the Soviet kitchen was a universal instrument for measuring. In the old culinary publications, products were measured for preparation not in grams, but in glasses.
3. Quite unusual is the use of a faceted glass as a dehumidifier. It was often seen in winter standing between double frames. Salt was poured into the glass so that the windows did not freeze. Now increasingly often instead of wooden frames on our windows plastic bags are shiny, so there is no longer a place for a faceted glass.
4. Dachnikov adapted to use faceted glasses for growing seedlings. They look more aesthetic, do not leave garbage after themselves, unlike peat cups.
5. The glass can be used to demonstrate the optical phenomena: if you pour water into it and put a teaspoon, it seems that it is broken.

This use of glasses was practiced in the Soviet times, although some techniques of application have been preserved even now, and no one thinks about who invented the faceted glass. In modern kitchens modern dishes are flaunting on the shelves, which looks more advantageous in comparison with a faceted glass, but many housewives, if there is such a rarity in their storerooms, do not rush to get rid of it.

Facts about the glass

There are some facts that are associated with a faceted glass. Here are some of them:

1. The cost of such dishes depended on the number of faces. A glass with 10 faces cost 3 kopecks, and with 16 facets - 7 kopecks. The volume did not depend on the number of faces, it always remained unchanged-250 ml.
2. The spread of drunkenness in Moldova is associated with a faceted glass. Historical data provide an opportunity to learn that before liberation from the Nazis of the country Soviet citizens drank from small 50 ml glasses, and the Russians brought with them capacious (250 ml) faceted glasses.
3. The Soviet faceted glass in the people called "Malenkov". Defense Minister Malenkov issued an order, according to which the serviceman was given 200 ml of vodka. Although this rule did not last long, it was remembered by many.

Here are just some facts that are inextricably linked with a faceted glass.

Feast of a faceted glass

We examined in detail and remembered about a faceted glass (history, how many faces), but it turns out that this item has its own holiday.

It is celebrated every year on September 11. This date was chosen for good reason, it was on this day at the glass factory in Gus-Khrustal began a mass production of these items of dishes. This festive date is not considered official, rather, a national holiday, so it is associated with a not very pleasant tradition.

Russian people always do not mind finding an excuse to relax over a glass of alcoholic beverage, but here, as a find, such a holiday, it's just a sin not to drink. That's what you can expect from such a celebration.

• From faceted glasses it is necessary to drink only vodka, other alcoholic drinks are not associated with this utensil.
• You should not drink alone, but necessarily in the company, because it is with a faceted glass that the expression "to think for three" is connected.
• One of the traditions of this holiday is the breaking of the "hero" of the celebration of sex.
• It would be nice to remember that from the faceted glasses, tea, jelly, compote and water are excellent. Everyone perfectly remembers such glasses in cup holders in train cars.

We can say that the sign of equality can be put between the notions of a "faceted glass", "the history of our country". These two concepts are inextricably linked. I would very much like to be awarded the Nobel Prize for such an invention, and not make it a permanent attribute of all the feasts.