Drammen Glassworks

The glassworks at Tangen

Drammen Glassworks was established in 1872 and began production in 1873 as Tangens Glasværk. It started with bottles and later had periods producing small wares, household glass and window glass. Christiania Glasmagasin acquired the works in 1893. The acquisition year is therefore not the founding year.

Norgesglass and other products

From 1908, production also included preserving jars, including Løveglass and Norgesglass. Norgesglass production in Drammen ceased in 1957. The name Norgesglass should therefore not be used as an exclusive maker's signature for Drammen or as evidence of a particular production year.

Why are both 1977 and 1989 given?

Raw-glass production and melting ended in 1977. The business continued processing glass, including insulating-glass units, before closing in 1989. Simply stating “closed in 1977” conceals the distinction between production processes and the company's subsequent activities.

Assessing older glass

For attribution, examine the product type, construction, base marks, dimensions, closure and documented ownership history together. Record lids and other detachable components separately. A lid that fits does not by itself prove that it originally belonged to that particular jar.

Use dated catalogues and museum records rather than colour or a common form alone. Distinguish documented Drammen manufacture from an unsupported sales description. Browse our glass and crystal category.

Sources

Drammen City Encyclopaedia, Store norske leksikon, with contributions from the Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology and Arkivmagasinet 1/2013 on glassworks archives.