Collection: Krosno (Poland)

Krosno is a Polish glass manufacturer whose history is closely connected with the town of Krosno in south-eastern Poland. Construction of the glassworks began in 1923, and the first production followed in January 1924. These two dates explain why accounts may refer either to the establishment of the works or to the beginning of its output.

The new factory brought together skilled glassworkers from several regions, including Silesia, the area around Lviv and Romania. They trained local apprentices, establishing the foundations for a glassmaking community that became an important part of the town’s identity. Finished glass began leaving the works in 1924, and its early achievements included recognition at the 1929 national exhibition in Poznań.

Krosno’s design history extends beyond the technical skill of the glassworkers themselves. Generations of designers developed both functional and decorative glass, with a 2023 centenary exhibition at the Glass Heritage Centre documenting part of that wider contribution. Maria Wierdak, for example, worked at the glassworks from 1958 and became a designer in 1970, creating utility and art glass with an interest in optical pattern and light.

The company’s range includes drinking glasses, serving pieces and decorative objects. Its long history also spans different production methods, so the Krosno name alone should not be used to describe every piece as handmade or to assign it to a particular designer. Those distinctions belong with the individual design and its supporting documentation. Together, the factory, its designers and its skilled workforce form a substantial chapter in Polish glassmaking.

Read more in Krosno’s company history, the Glass Heritage Centre’s historical account and its account of Maria Wierdak.