The skilled labour at Schmid's was French and remained so throughout the
Nineteenth century.
The executive director Mathis was French, as was the master glassblower
Francesco Broneur.
Brothers Pietro and Francesco Lemoine, master glassblowers, Stefano Flech,
gilder and painter, and Giorgio Ploner, engraver were the four master craftsmen
to whom the improvement in quality and increase in production at Schmid's,
which began in 1847, was due, and all four were French.
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There were sufficient Frenchmen resident in Colle Val d'Elsa during the
Nineteenth century to form a small community that celebrated the fall
of the Bastille.
There is a curious remark on this subject in a hand-written document by
Vittorio Meoni:
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"
14 July 1891 - Celebration by the French residents of Colle.
During a dinner to which I was invited at the La Venezia inn, I spoke in praise
of the United States of Europe".
