©Charleroi, Musée du Verre, Fonds Pierre Dias
In 1826, François Kemlin and Auguste Lelièvre founded the public limited company ‘Verreries et Établissements du Val Saint-Lambert’ in Seraing. The glassworks quickly benefited from considerable investment, which promoted technical progress, the growth of exports and the promotion of a young national industry. In 1879, they became Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert, a key player that successively bought up several glassworks and, between 1880 and 1914, enjoyed a real golden age: more than 5,000 workers, outlets all over the world and a reputation consolidated by prestigious participations in the World’s Fairs, from 1894 in Antwerp to 1925 in Paris. Throughout its existence, Val Saint-Lambert has successfully reinvented itself, navigating the Art Nouveau era, the 1930s and the post-war period...
In 1826, François Kemlin and Auguste Lelièvre founded the public limited company ‘Verreries et Établissements du Val Saint-Lambert’ in Seraing. The glassworks quickly benefited from considerable investment, which promoted technical progress, the growth of exports and the promotion of a young national industry. In 1879, they became Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert, a key player that successively bought up several glassworks and, between 1880 and 1914, enjoyed a real golden age: more than 5,000 workers, outlets all over the world and a reputation consolidated by prestigious participations in the World’s Fairs, from 1894 in Antwerp to 1925 in Paris. Throughout its existence, Val Saint-Lambert has successfully reinvented itself, navigating the Art Nouveau era, the 1930s and the post-war period by collaborating with renowned artists and designers: Léon Ledru (1855–1926), the Muller brothers (Henri Muller, 1868–1936; Désiré Muller, 1877–1952; Eugène Muller, 1883–1914), Charles Graffart (1893–1967), René Delvenne (1901–1968), Yan Zoritchak (born in 1944) and Philippe Starck (born in 1949). In 2026, Cristalleries will celebrate its bicentenary. To mark this anniversary, the Design Museum Brussels is joining forces with several museums and scientific institutions to highlight this jewel of Belgian industrial heritage and creativity. In collaboration with the Charleroi Glass Museum and curated by Catherine Thomas and Anne Vanlatum, the exhibition Val Saint Lambert & Design at the Design Museum Brussels is dedicated to the creative output of Val Saint-Lambert from the 1958 World’s Fair to the early 2000s, a period that witnessed an unprecedented creative renewal. It embodies Val Saint-Lambert’s desire to preserve craftsmanship while bringing it into the modern era and engaging in constant dialogue with design. In line with the American Studio Glass movement, it opened its doors to international artists and designers who, alongside the crystal factory’s master glassmakers, experimented with new forms and pushed the boundaries of creation. Crystal, a material that symbolises artisanal excellence, became the medium for bold creations, combining traditional know-how with aesthetic innovations. Created in 1989 under the impetus of director Patrick Depuydt, the Crystal Studio marked a decisive step in the history of Val Saint-Lambert. Through this joint exhibition, the Design Museum Brussels and the Charleroi Glass Museum invite their visitors to discover the Crystal Studio, a founding chapter in the contemporary history of glass, reflecting the dynamism, the innovation and the international influence of the Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert.| Monday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Tuesday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Wednesday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Friday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Saturday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Sunday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
©Charleroi, Musée du Verre, Fonds Pierre Dias
In 1826, François Kemlin and Auguste Lelièvre founded the public limited company ‘Verreries et Établissements du Val Saint-Lambert’ in Seraing. The glassworks quickly benefited from considerable investment, which promoted technical progress, the growth of exports and the promotion of a young national industry. In 1879, they became Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert, a key player that successively bought up several glassworks and, between 1880 and 1914, enjoyed a real golden age: more than 5,000 workers, outlets all over the world and a reputation consolidated by prestigious participations in the World’s Fairs, from 1894 in Antwerp to 1925 in Paris. Throughout its existence, Val Saint-Lambert has successfully reinvented itself, navigating the Art Nouveau era, the 1930s and the post-war period...
In 1826, François Kemlin and Auguste Lelièvre founded the public limited company ‘Verreries et Établissements du Val Saint-Lambert’ in Seraing. The glassworks quickly benefited from considerable investment, which promoted technical progress, the growth of exports and the promotion of a young national industry. In 1879, they became Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert, a key player that successively bought up several glassworks and, between 1880 and 1914, enjoyed a real golden age: more than 5,000 workers, outlets all over the world and a reputation consolidated by prestigious participations in the World’s Fairs, from 1894 in Antwerp to 1925 in Paris. Throughout its existence, Val Saint-Lambert has successfully reinvented itself, navigating the Art Nouveau era, the 1930s and the post-war period by collaborating with renowned artists and designers: Léon Ledru (1855–1926), the Muller brothers (Henri Muller, 1868–1936; Désiré Muller, 1877–1952; Eugène Muller, 1883–1914), Charles Graffart (1893–1967), René Delvenne (1901–1968), Yan Zoritchak (born in 1944) and Philippe Starck (born in 1949). In 2026, Cristalleries will celebrate its bicentenary. To mark this anniversary, the Design Museum Brussels is joining forces with several museums and scientific institutions to highlight this jewel of Belgian industrial heritage and creativity. In collaboration with the Charleroi Glass Museum and curated by Catherine Thomas and Anne Vanlatum, the exhibition Val Saint Lambert & Design at the Design Museum Brussels is dedicated to the creative output of Val Saint-Lambert from the 1958 World’s Fair to the early 2000s, a period that witnessed an unprecedented creative renewal. It embodies Val Saint-Lambert’s desire to preserve craftsmanship while bringing it into the modern era and engaging in constant dialogue with design. In line with the American Studio Glass movement, it opened its doors to international artists and designers who, alongside the crystal factory’s master glassmakers, experimented with new forms and pushed the boundaries of creation. Crystal, a material that symbolises artisanal excellence, became the medium for bold creations, combining traditional know-how with aesthetic innovations. Created in 1989 under the impetus of director Patrick Depuydt, the Crystal Studio marked a decisive step in the history of Val Saint-Lambert. Through this joint exhibition, the Design Museum Brussels and the Charleroi Glass Museum invite their visitors to discover the Crystal Studio, a founding chapter in the contemporary history of glass, reflecting the dynamism, the innovation and the international influence of the Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert.| Monday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Tuesday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Wednesday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Friday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Saturday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Sunday | 11:00 - 19:00 |