Glasi Hergiswil

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Glasi Hergiswil
Glassmaker

The Glasi Hergiswil (actual company name: Hergiswiler Glas AG ) is a glassworks founded by the Siegwart brothers in 1817 in Hergiswil , Nidwalden . She is known for her glass work, which is carried out exclusively by hand.

history

In 1817 the glassblower brothers Siegwart, who moved from Flühli in 1815, founded the glassworks in Hergiswil because it was more suitable than Flühli in terms of the transport conditions and the conditions for procuring wood. The Siegwart family had been involved in this trade since 1723.

In 1975 the Glasi was about to close due to its old-fashioned manufacturing methods and the growing competition from new technology and automatic glass production. Thanks to the employees ( Glasi-Lüüt ), the community and above all Roberto Niederer , a closure could be prevented.

Glass manufacturing

The glassworks is considered the last of its kind in Switzerland. It is made entirely by hand. Products include drinking and wine glasses, wine carafes and water jugs, glass plates and bowls and Christmas decorations. The glass furnace remains in operation and heats the glass mass to around 1500 degrees Celsius. The service life of the furnace is 4 to 7 years, after which it must be completely replaced. The glassmakers work in two shifts from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and remove 4 tons of glass from the furnace every day. All outbuildings are heated with its waste heat.

Since 1992 a museum has belonged to the glassworks, which the Council of Europe named "one of the most beautiful museums in Europe" in 1996. At the end of the museum tour, visitors can watch the approximately 100 employees from a platform as the glass is poured, shaped or blown . As a result, the first glass labyrinth in Switzerland, a water park and a park with a marble run were created on the factory premises.

Web links

Commons : Glasi Hergiswil  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Claudia Schoch: The glassworks in Hergiswil; Glass - malleable, ringing and fragile . In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung , December 25, 2012
  2. ^ Peter Steiner: Hergiswil (NW). In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland .
  3. ↑ Christine Keller: Glass. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland .
  4. ↑ Glasi Hergiswil - visitor tour , on the Steiner Sarnen Schweiz AG website, accessed on July 5, 2016

Coordinates: 46 ° 58 '55.1 "  N , 8 ° 18' 42.5"  E ; CH1903:  666 431  /  203804