Temporary exhibition at Design Museum Brussels: Val-Saint-Lambert & design (1958-2000)

In 1826, François Kemlin and Auguste Lelièvre founded the joint-stock company "Verreries et Établissements du Val Saint-Lambert" in Seraing. The glassworks soon benefited from significant investments that promoted technical progress, increased exports, and the promotion of a young national industry. In 1879, they were renamed Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert, a major player that successively took over several glassworks and enjoyed a veritable golden age between 1880 and 1914: more than 5,000 workers, branches all over the world, and a reputation reinforced by prestigious participations in World's Fairs, from 1894 in Antwerp to 1925 in Paris. Throughout its existence, Val Saint-Lambert has constantly reinvented itself, navigating the periods of Art Nouveau, the 1930s, and the post-war years by collaborating with renowned artists and designers.

Anniversary year

In 2026, Cristalleries will celebrate its bicentennial. To mark this anniversary, the Design Museum Brussels is collaborating with various museums and scientific institutions to shine a spotlight on this gem of Belgian creativity and industrial heritage. In collaboration with the Glass Museum in Charleroi and curated by Catherine Thomas and Anne Vanlatum, the exhibition Val Saint Lambert & Design (1958-2000) at the Design Museum Brussels is dedicated to the creations of Val Saint-Lambert from the 1958 World's Fair to the early 2000s, a period that witnessed unprecedented creative innovation. It embodies Val Saint-Lambert's desire to preserve the craft while anchoring it in modernity and in a constant dialogue with design.

In line with the American Studio Glass movement, it opens its doors to international artists and designers who, together with the master glassblowers of the crystal factory, experiment with new forms and push the boundaries of creativity. Crystal, the material that symbolizes traditional craftsmanship, thus becomes the medium for daring creations, combining traditional know-how and aesthetic innovations. Studio Cristal, founded in 1989 under the impetus of director Patrick Depuydt, marks a decisive step in the history of Val Saint-Lambert.

This temporary exhibition will be on display until October 25, 2026.