The purity and luxurious weight of the glass has a long tradition. "Annathal", the first glassworks specialising in exquisite glassware, was established in 1872 and was the precursor to today's glassworks. It was founded at a time when the Bavarian Forest was barely accessible and was not even connected by rail. Thus, the international acclaim enjoyed by the "Zwiesler Farbenglashütte, Gebrüder Tasche" at the turn of the century bears witness to its reputation for extraordinary quality. In 1891 the company's glass was awarded the highest possible distinction, a first-class diploma of honour at the Great Exhibition in London.

Besides being a manufacture of hollowware the company was also one of just three glassworks in Germany capable of making the much coveted "antique glass", a valuable coloured glass full of nuances, which paved the way for recreating Gothic and Romanesque-style stained glass windows.