The publication contains file cards created since 1983, when Monica Bietti was the director of the Museum of Medieval and Modern art in Modena. News archives from the formation of the collection are scarce, but when it comes to the glass it is clear that the collecting took place in an artistic-industrial culture, in years that left an indelible mark on the museum in Modena. The introductory essay clarifies the European context and effectively draws on the great public and private collections.