Nuova CEV crystal factory’s history dates back as early as the first years of the second post-war period. From 1945 up to the present day Nuova CEV has been perpetuating the long-standing tradition of the master glassworkers in forging hot, fascinating living matter: crystal. Nuova CEV has hired up to 300 workers. Over the years, Nuova CEV has been manufacturing plain as well as coloured and transparent glass, including the renowned “opaline”, while in the 1970s and 1980s it started producing lead crystal. Nuova CEV was the first company in the area of Empoli and Valdelsa to experience new production techniques such as the glass-washing robot and the semi-automatic stamping machine. Also, Nuova CEV was one of the first companies to use state-of-the-art equipment for cold work of manufactured goods, the so-called “glass stoning”.

As many other Italian glass factories, Nuova CEV experienced a hard time during the 1950s and the 1980s. As of 1987, though, the situation changed and today’s production, mostly the result of handicraft, is something Nuova CEV is extremely proud of. Abandoning batch production for quality production proved to be a winning choice. Even though this meant hard commitment to constant improvement, it all possessed undeniable fascination. Therefore, since 1987 Nuova CEV has been relying on the expertise of master glassworkers, thus starting a successful working cycle which attracted even those young workers who approached the job for the first time with the idea that it was a sort of “antechamber to hell”. In the 1960s master glassworkers were regarded as a special caste. As a consequence, lower castes such as gatherers, takers-in, and helpers were bullied and bossed about by master glassworkers. Older, retired masters nowadays recount of “scorching made by the hot pipe”, “bucketfuls of water” and other similar episodes which were reserved for those subordinate workers who didn’t comply with the masters’ orders. Some subordinate workers went as far as washing their masters’ feet, enduring such humiliation with the secret hope of becoming a master glassworker in their turn. Nowadays things have changed.

As many other Italian glass factories, Nuova CEV experienced a hard time during the 1950s and the 1980s. As of 1987, though, the situation changed and today’s production, mostly the result of handicraft, is something Nuova CEV is extremely proud of. Abandoning batch production for quality production proved to be a winning choice. Even though this meant hard commitment to constant improvement, it all possessed undeniable fascination. Therefore, since 1987 Nuova CEV has been relying on the expertise of master glassworkers, thus starting a successful working cycle which attracted even those young workers who approached the job for the first time with the idea that it was a sort of “antechamber to hell”. In the 1960s master glassworkers were regarded as a special caste. As a consequence, lower castes such as gatherers, takers-in, and helpers were bullied and bossed about by master glassworkers. Older, retired masters nowadays recount of “scorching made by the hot pipe”, “bucketfuls of water” and other similar episodes which were reserved for those subordinate workers who didn’t comply with the masters’ orders. Some subordinate workers went as far as washing their masters’ feet, enduring such humiliation with the secret hope of becoming a master glassworker in their turn. Nowadays things have changed.

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