Val Saint-Lambert’s bicentenary and digitisation project

For its ‘Object of the Month’ in May 2026, the Grand Curtius is shining a spotlight on the albums and sales catalogues of the Val Saint-Lambert crystal works. To mark the bicentenary of the factory, this valuable heritage is the subject of a major digitisation project in collaboration with the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, aimed at ensuring its preservation and online accessibility.

A ‘speaking’ bust

Saint Bartholomew, the martyred apostle, is often depicted holding a knife or his own skin. The Grand Curtius houses an expressive reliquary bust of the saint, dating from the 16th century and attributed to a Limburg artist influenced by Jan van Steffesweert. This work bears witness to the tradition of ‘speaking’ reliquaries and the devotion surrounding his relics in Europe.

Tableware in the 18th century: a tête-à-tête lunch

The consumption of hot beverages such as tea, coffee and chocolate became very fashionable among the bourgeoisie in the 18th century and was often a special moment in domestic life. This ritual gave rise to the development of so-called “lunch” services: a porcelain set comprising a tray matching the cups, for one or two people, hence the names “égoïste” (selfish) and “tête à tête” (one-on-one).

The painter and the poet

Discover the object of the month for November 2025. Renée Brock (1912–1980), a poet with a dense and powerful style, boldly tackled feminist and intimate themes, while running a literary circle in Tilff. Her artistic sensibility resonated with that of the painter Corneille, who used the same pictorial technique, finding sensitivity in the intensity of detail.