Information on the thesis

Dissertation  to  obtain  the  scientific  degree  of  Candidate  of  Historical  Sciences.
Specialty 07.00.01 – History of Ukraine. – Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv,
2016.
In the dissertation, complex analysis of formation and development of glass foundry
in  Subcarpathian  and  Volyn  Regions  (late  15  –  early  19 c.)  based  on  wide  range  of
references has been provided. More particular, historical continuity of glass foundry has
been studied and manufacture areas, where glass-workers forerunners lived, defined. The
structure of glass  foundry  as  a  multispectral  phenomenon is  introduced.  Peculiarities of
labour organization and duties distribution among glass-workers living in the woods are
analysed. Technical and technological peculiarities of glass manufacturing are described,
including  the  characteristics  of  glass-melting  furnaces.  The  areas  inhabited  by  glass-
workers in Subcarpathian and Volyn regions during late 15 – early 19 centuries are traced.
Specific features of urban glass manufacture are studied in its connection with wood glass
manufacture.  On  the  study  museum  glass  exhibits,  the  assortment  of  glass  goods  used
widely on these territories is defined.
Glass foundry was introduced in Subcarpathian and Volyn regions in the last third
of 15 century, right after the first glass-workers settled in these woods. The experience of
craftsmen  of  Kyiivska  Rus  put  the  basis  for  this  industry.  A  significant  number  of
workshops found on Old Halych territories as well as wide everyday use of glass works
during 11 – 14 c. prove the uninterrupted development of glass foundry.

Glass workers used to settle on the raw sources nearby territories, and were typical
manufacturers; number of workers at one foundry usually didn’t exceed eleven. Namely,
they were: a glass manufacturer, a glass blower, a polisher, a painter, a goldsmith, a glass
cutter, a mixer, a woodcutter, a miner, a blacksmith, a potter, a glass packer. A “glass-
manufacturer” usually referred to the founder of a glass factory who worked at the same
time  as  a  glass  blower  there.  Due  to  the  agreement  with  land  owner,  it  was  glass-
manufacturer  who  paid  both  monetary  and  natural  (glass)  taxes.  That  is,  a  glass-
manufacturer set up the factory and on the right of the leaseholder worked there. 29 glass
foundries functioning on the territories under scope of study during the last third of 15 –
17  centuries  were  traced,  and  31  glass  foundries  –  during  18  –  early  19  century
respectively.
The  main  technical  method  applied  by  glass  workers  at  these  factories  was  free
blowing  combined  with  modelling  and  stretching.  Essential  components  of  glass  mass
were sand, limestone and ach (or potash); adding glass waste was no less important.
Alongside with wood-located glass foundries, glass making also existed as an urban
craft.  As  the  evidence,  there  were  combined  glass-making  workshops  in  Lviv,  Zamost,
Novy Sanch, Sokal. The insignificant role glass-making had in towns is evidenced by the
fact  that  individual  glass-makers  could  not  accomplish  the  duties  predetermined  by
workshop  organization.  Thus  it  is  not  strange  that  “glass-manufacturers”  provided
workshops with raw sources.
The majority of glass foundries produced typical green glass for wide use. But some
exceptions  have  also  been  found.  For  instance,  filigree  Univ  glass  works,  or  polished
crystal  and  ruby  works  of  Korostiv  glass  foundry.  In  this  respect,  the  thesis  about  low
amateur level of glass making seems untrue. Activity of the above mentioned foundries
which applied high technologies can be explained by craftsmen migration. It is believed
that  Univ  glass  manufacture  was  run  by  an  Italian,  who  most  probably  was  invited  by
deans of Univ Lavra. In case with Korostiv glass foundry, the migration could be caused
by  Halychyna’s  entrance  into  Austria  Empire,  and  the  Czechs  could  have  already
produced crystal glass by that time.
Basing  on  detail  study  of  a  significant  amount  of  museum  glass  collections,  the
following functional and typological groups of glass products dated late 15 – early 19 c.
may be defined: vessels for liquids and dry substances, vessels for drinking, apothecary
vessels, window glass, figure glass and other glass items.
The middle of 19 century is the time when the epoch of timber glass-work comes to
its  end.  Industrial  centres  attract  more  and  more  foundries  while  relic  glass  foundries
located in woods are declining becoming less and less compatitive.
Key  words:  glass  foundry,  glass,  glassworks,  the  Subcarpathians,  Volyn,  glass-
melting furnace.