The technique of glass-blowing appeared some 2,000 years ago and fostered interest across the world in this almost magical material.
Traditional glassmaking is still practised throughout Mexico. The raw material used is often recycled from urban centres. It is then heated at high temperatures and transformed into unique and fascinating crafts.
Amongst the techniques used are free and mould glassblowing, pressed glass and miniatures.
Some popular items of glass crafts in our collection include the iconic chicken salt pinch bowls and jugs, particularly those made to serve pulque, a thick Mexican alcoholic drink made from fermented maguey juice.
Puebla de los Angeles
The city was founded in 1531 in an area called Cuetlaxcoapan, which means "where serpents change their skin”, in between the indigenous settlements of Tlaxcala and Cholula.
During the XVI century, artisanal glass workshops started to settle in Puebla, making this craft a thriving industry in Mexico and beyond.