[Image above] Example of Superfest drinking glasses, which were known for their extreme durability. Credit: Michael Ernst, Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Although “superfest” may sound like a term of revelry, it refers to a type of glassware produced in East Germany between 1980 and 1990. The German word translates to “super solid” in English, a direct nod to the strength and durability of the material. In fact, Superfest glass proved to be 10 times more durable than average drinking glass. But why were these legendary drinking glasses so short-lived?
The answer to that question begins in the early 1970s, when the research that would eventually result in Superfest drinking glasses took place. During this time, East Germany lived under a command economy, in which the Socialist Unity Party made all decisions regarding production goals and raw material allotment. Due to these constraints, technological innovators needed to develop products that would last longer.
According to an article in Digital Cosmonaut, East German pubs and restaurants, like many eating establishments around the world, suffered from drinking glasses regularly breaking during the hustle and bustle of serving food. So, starting in the early 1970s, materials scientists in the Glass Structure Research Department at the Central Institute for Organic Chemistry, an institute within the Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republic, began investigating ways to make drinking glasses more durable.
The researchers knew that glass commonly breaks due to the microscopic cracks that form during its production. So, according to an article in The Guardian, they used an ion-exchange process to replace sodium ions with larger, electronically charged potassium ions, which would then take up extra space and help prevent the microscopic cracks from growing. The process was later patented as “Process and Apparatus for Strengthening Glass Products by Ion Exchange.”
This invention of “Wirteglas,” Superfest’s arguably lesser-known older sibling, was considered groundbreaking in the glassmaking process, especially as resources remained scarce in East Germany. The designers of Superfest took inspiration from the Wirteglas process to create drinking glasses that would hold up longer in restaurants and pubs.
Even though Superfest glasses soared in popularity, their lifespan was cut short once it became clear that the product was too durable. If Superfest glasses did not break very easily, as demonstrated in the video below, then they would not have to be replaced as often, which could jeopardize profits in the glassware industry.
Credit: DDR-Design.info, YouTube
Before anything could be done to potentially decrease Superfest’s extreme durability, the brand’s parent company, VEB Sachsenglas Schwepnitz, went bankrupt after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Since then, Superfest glasses were exiled to live on in vintage shops, personal collections, and Ebay listings—which may sound familiar to those who know the story of Depression glass. The Superfest brand still maintains a loyal following, with some listings for vintage Superfest glasses reaching hundreds of U.S. dollars.
Now, the demand for an extremely durable drinking glass may be on the rise again with soulbottles, a Berlin startup that aims to bring back the legacy of Superfest with a focus on sustainability.
The company creates engraved, customizable glass water bottles that encourage users to drink more tap water while also donating to the charity Viva con Agua’s drinking water projects—one euro donated for each soulbottle purchased.
According to The Guardian article, soulbottles has crowdfunded €251,139 (US$275,948) to open a production facility reminiscent of the Superfest production process, decades after the economy forced Superfest to lose its grip on consumers.
The company’s next challenge? Producing a glass that is both durable and recyclable, which can be more challenging than people realize, as explained in this month’s Ceramic Tech Chat podcast episode, which published online this morning.
