Vintage Luminarc Glasses part of the Sarment Collection with Grape Vine Pattern (France, 1970s)

Set of 4 glasses produced during 1970s in France by Luminarc, as part of their Sarment Collection featuring a delicate grape vine pattern and a beautifully carved stem. Of course, most of you most likely already heard of Luminarc, so I won’t go into many details, but I will note that it was founded in Arques, a commune in the Pas-de-Calais region (North of France), just few years after the end of WWII, in 1948, by Jacques Durand. Now, Mr. Durant did some really serious branding for that age and so from combining “Lum” (light) and “Arc” (from the historical geolocation of Arques), he came up with the glorious Luminarc.

Anyways, 1970s France was not doing that great in terms of its identity and role in Europe and in the world, with the constant penetration of American companies and trends really pushing for that sort of modernism that well, France was not ready to accept or embrace. Follow me here for a minute to understand why the grape vine pattern was such a thing during 1970s France.

So, with USA being at the victors table at the end of WWII, it obviously had an incredible momentum for years to come, but that also meant that France`s historic myths about herself were also destined to clash with the wave of American influence in Europe. During 1970s, huge American corporations first set office in France and guess what, that’s a problem. One cool scholar drew this example of IBM that during that period set up operations there, and soon after that US corporations were seen with suspicion for dominating the local competition, like French computer manufacturer Compagnie des Machines Bull. Then, Americans came in and opened McDonald`s, “attacking” France`s appreciation for fine cuisine. To make matters worse for the French, lots of American movies and television in general poured in France, to which the French responded with new local content laws meant to protect French television from being overwhelmed by cheap, crass American imports.

Being subjected to an unprecedented invasion of technology and consumerism, France was losing ground in her own right in many ways, but that also meant that the French would hold on even tighter to their cultural identity.

As France is synonymous with wine and it’s part of its heritage, with seven primary wine-producing regions in France (Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Provence and the Rhone Valley), one way of upholding France`s identity was also through protecting and promoting the fine wine culture. These glasses, besides being a literal vessel for this culture to pour into, they took on a positively French symbol, the grape wine, and transposed it into these French made late mid-century glasses.

Product specifications

Country of manufacture — France

Condition —Excellent — This vintage/antique piece is in near original condition. It may show minimal traces of use.

Restoration and Damage Details — Patina consistent with age and use.

Material — Glass

Size — 11 cm H x 9 cm Ø