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Vista Alegre
A NAME WITH A STORY
The first Atlantis crystal pieces were created in 1972 in a factory in the town of Alcobaça, carrying on with the traditional
Portuguese art of glassblowing. In the beginning of the 70’s this factory, which since 1944 had manufactured chandeliers
and glassware, was adapted to produce crystal. However, despite this expansion, all the stages of the manufacturing process
continued to be handmade, preserving artisanal knowhow. Currently, the brand Vista Alegre still manufactures the finest
hand-made crystals in the world, using those techniques that were handed down over generations, including the mould and
the glassblowing pipe.
THE INGREDIENTS
OF AN ART FORM
Sand, lead oxide, soda, potash and borax, among other
raw materials, mixed with skill and human creativity: this
combination creates Vista Alegre crystal in its purest form –
superior crystal - distinguishable from the others through its
greater resonance, shine, clarity, brightness and weight, as
well as due to a great chemical resistance. The combination
of these elements has given Atlantis world-wide recognition
for making outstanding crystal.
TECHNOLOGY,
QUALITY AND DESIGN
ARE KEY ELEMENTS
Investment in modern technologies and the purchase of a
furnace with features that make it among the few of its kind in
the world, ensure high production capacity and the conditions
of purity that are of the utmost importance for protecting
the incandescent crystal from outside contamination. The
quality control process is another important aspect in
assuring the perfection of Vista Alegre crystal, which implies
rejecting thousands of pieces, many of which bear flaws
detectable only through the trained eye of the artisans. On
the other hand, investing mainly in design, Vista Alegre has,
during the past years, developed pieces which clearly have a
contemporary character, through the creativity and talent of
Portuguese as well as foreign designers.
VISTA ALEGRE