Verreries A Boussu

Glass production started around 1837 in the Mons Borinage region near Charleroi with 3-5 separate factories identified. After the closure of Verreries Robettes and La Renaissance (closed 1852), the Verreries A Boussu (VAB) remained as a single commercial entity in this part of Hainaut.

They made cylinder glass and supplied the major local producers of greenhouses, as well making jars and bottles, lamps and drinking glasses. At their peak they used 16 pots. There was little evidence of artistry in their glass making, and the factory closed during WW2.
The remaining factory buildings reopened in 1945 and management led the production towards 'fancy goods', drinkware and higher value decorative articles.

Around 1958 the artist Zéphyr Busine was asked to help and established a design ethic that continued with Christian Vincent and Claude Laurent. In 1960 the Verreries A Boussu changed their name to Manufacture de Boussu, hoping to indicate their improved craftsmanship. In 1968 the company became part of the MANUVERBEL conglomerate.

Boussu designs were often in opaline and coloured glass and they made other 'fancy items'. By 1975 they employed 155 people on a wide range of products.

A range of Boussu labels were used on the post-war production, and some production has been given a Val-St-Lambert label. (Note the identical colours and distinctive brown tint).

In the 1980's Boussu made clear drinkware for general use, but struggled against stronger competitors.

Berger lamps
Berger lamps are an early patent design for perfuming the room. They were first produced in 1898 by the Paris-based company ( https://www.maison-berger.fr/). They commissioned a wide range of glass bottles to hold the perfume and these were (and are still) produced in series by various glass factories. Berger ranges Prestige and parts of the EF series were manufactured for Berger at Boussu.

We recommend the sites below for further research.

http://verresboussu.blogspot.com/