Glassed glasses - a national symbol of feasts and an au pair

Since the 1950s, a faceted glass has become one of thethe main "popular" symbols of the Soviet Union, and after its disintegration - the subject of endless nostalgia. Not lost, however, its practical application: as an indispensable companion of small and large feasts and as a measuring container, which is always at hand. The faceted glasses are universal products. With a dense train of legends following them. Let's try to figure out what in the history of the granchak is true, and what is beautiful, but a fairy tale.

Exactly the legend - the story of the gift of the famousVladimir Fedorov, glass-blower Yefim Smolin to Tsar Peter I. Having drunk green wine from the thick-walled granchak, the one that had pissed them to the ground, shouting: "I'll have a glass!" Granchak take it and fly to pieces. But the glassblower swore that he did not fight! However, all has managed. Since the retinue "translated" the words of the tsar - "glasses to beat!", Hence, it went, the custom after drinking to break the dishes for luck.

Samples of glassware from the 17th century, including faceted glasses, are now kept in the Hermitage. And this is not a legend.

Legend also can be considered that the authorshipSoviet faceted glass belongs to the famous sculptor, creator of the world-famous monument "Worker and Collective Farm Girl" Vera Mukhina. Yes, in common with the avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich. The last died in 1935. Mukhina did not take up glass until the late 1940s. By this time, however, the task also concerns: to create a sufficiently strong glass for the needs of public catering, which would withstand the washing process in the dishwasher.

Another legend - the day of the firstglass with facets, from which all the Soviet faceted glasses trace the pedigree: September 11, 1943. At that time, the famous plant in Gus-Khrustalny, where it allegedly happened, was occupied with the issue of exclusively military medical products: thermometers, flasks, flasks, etc.

At least three common expressions are associated withgranchak. "Simple, like three pennies" - this is how much the product cost at the dawn of its existence. "Semi-kopeck", i.e. primitive nowhere - reflects the price of a faceted glass in the 1970s and 1980s. Finally, the legendary "think for three?" In the early 1960s, the government, struggling with drunkenness, put a strong hand on the retail sale of alcohol, banning the sale of vodka for spills and removing from the assortment 125 grams of burglars and half large coins. The standard half-liter price was 2 rubles 87 kopecks. It was believed that every hard worker had a ruble for lunch. "For three" there was enough money, and each faceted glass of gramme contained enough.

A classic faceted glass has 110 mm inheight, the diameter of its bottom - 65 mm, the "throat" - 75 mm. The number of faces was 16 (a 20-ounce glass cost 14 cents). The volume is 200 cubic meters. see If you pour it on the rim, leaves 200 ml, if to the edges - 250 ml. But the milk in it is 204 ml, sour cream - 210 ml. Sugar in a faceted glass, if to the brim, weighs 200 grams. It can also contain 9 egg whites or 10 yolks. Finally, a "glass of seeds" without tare weighs 90 grams. And if you clean them - 58.

In the 80's a misfortune happened: A real epidemic of Granchak explosions swept through the country. Resonance was not weak: there were articles in the press, a story in a satirical newsreel "Wick." Finally, the party, sensing the ideological sabotage (the whole country saws!), Gave the competent authorities the instruction: to understand. Soon they reported: to all the blame - a small change in the technology, which had to be produced because of the introduction of glass at import plants. As a result of the change in the structure of the glass, the faceted glasses acquired the ability to literally crumble from loud sounds. By the way, this episode is shown at the very beginning of the famous TV series "Brigade".