Schmid's standard production was usually different to that on display at the
various Exhibitions.
There was a vast choice of glasses, goblets, bottles and phials, ranging from
the simplest to the most sophisticated forms, decorated with cuts or engravings.
Numerous everyday items were also produced, including funnels, various types of
measure, candle holders, stoups, inkpots and carafes.
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The firm produced articles for lighting, such as tubes for lanterns and headlamps,
candlesticks, oil lamps, church lamps and various types of lampshade.
An inventory dated 1886 also lists several pieces of glassware for use in the
pharmaceutical chemical sector, such as 'chemists' bowls with little scoops,
"apothecary" jars, urinals, 'baby bottles with tubes', pestles and mortars,
"purifiers" and beakers for chemical experiments.
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The type of glass produced at the time by Schmid was still very different in
composition from the lead crystal made by the English and French: the main
components of the vitreous mass (quartz, lime, manganese, potash) were of
Italian origin and usually of poor quality.
Unlike English and French crystal throughout the Italian peninsula there was
absolutely no use of lead oxide.
Quality improved during the last three months of the Nineteenth century, when
the renowned siliceous sand of Fontainbleau came into use.
