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Glass

Taking advantage of the new facilities at Quinta de S. Miguel in Almada - and moving on from Workshop to Department and from department to Centre -, Glass is an adventure that lasts almost a decade, starting with the signing of a collaboration protocol with CRISAL-Cristais de Alcobaça in 1987 (when the first workshop of cold-working glass was held, oriented by Rolnay Barreto), and ending with the negotiations with the Mandata factory, in 1997, for the creation of art and design projects proposed by Ar.Co. The installation of the Workshop and the beginning of its activities of experimentation and training throughout the early years is made possible, on the one hand, the enthusiastic support of António Raposo Magalhães (Crisal) and, on the other, by the presence of international artists-glassmakers. Terry Davidson, from the Experimental Glass Workshop in New York, and Ray Flavel, responsible for the glass department of the West Surrey College of Art and Design, UK, lead the first two training events, with the support of the Luso-American Foundation. Estrela Pais Vieira trains at the EGW in 1988 and becomes the coordinator of  Ar.Co’s Glass Workshop. Interchange programs become crucial: Jane Bruce (EGW) leads a new course in 1989 and Maria Felizol undertakes a training course in New York on the following year (after which the Workshop becomes a Department). The “International Glass Seminar Ar.Co/91” happens next (with Maria Felizol as Head of department in 1990/91) and the first prototypes for commercial editions are produced by Maria Felizol and Graça Costa Cabral (only the line Pleiades by Maria Felizol will actually be industrially produced by Crisal in 1994). A crisis in the industry and the nonexistence of a tradition of Glass Art in Portugal lead to the closure of the Department.


  • Large a constru forno vidro 88 terry davidson 01

    Terry Davidson, construction of Glass kiln at Quinta de S. Miguel, Almada, 1988.

  • Large a workshop vidro terry d 1988 32

    Glass Workshop with Terry Davidson, Quinta de S. Miguel, 1988.

  • Large a workshop vidro terry d 1988 35

    Glass Workshop with Terry Davidson, Quinta de S. Miguel, 1988.

  • Large a semana do cristal janeiro 1989 almada 06

    Crystal Week, Jan 1989, Quinta de S. Miguel. Technicians from Crisal.

  • Large a seminario int vidro almada 1991 04

    International Glass Seminar Ar.Co '91. Quinta de S. Miguel, Almada. Jane Bruce

  • Large sem vidro t pio yli viikari e tery davidson

    International Glass Seminar Ar.Co '91. Quinta de S. Miguel, Almada. Tápio Yli Viikari (top) and Terry Davidson (bottom).

  • Large a pleiades atlantis crystal 1994

    Brochure announcing the Pleiades crystal line by Maria Felizol, 1994.