The Glass Association

Qing glassware is unique in that its production was managed by European missionaries under the direct patronage of the Chinese emperors. This fact is documented in both Chinese and European historic records. Even the location of the glass factory is known.

In the early 2000s the Palace Museum, Beijing, took stock of the glassware in their stores and published an illustrated catalogue. With that as a reference point Chinese glass in public and private collections worldwide can be compared and a better understanding of this branch of Chinese art has been achieved.

Ming Wilson has been Senior Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum until 2018. She is now Honorary Senior Research Fellow.

Vase, layer-cut glass, Qianlong reign period (1736-95)    V&A C.1525-1910

Meeting Place : The Art Workers’ Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N (Gradidge Room, first floor – please give notice if you need help with mobility)        Time:  The lecture will start promptly at 19.15.   Coffee and light refreshments are provided from 18.30.      The meeting will finish by 21.00       NB We need to know if you will attend the meeting for numbers restrictions, for catering or unforeseen changes.   Please inform Anne Lutyens-Stobbs, Meetings Organiser, 8 Millers Croft, Gt Baddow, Chelmsford, CM2 8JL, tel. (01245) 604518 or email: annelh60@hotmail.com by Tuesday 12^th March, confirming The talk you wish to attend;

The number of people coming at £10.00 (Members; Guests £15.00 each).  You may pay cash on the night, a cheque made payable to The Glass Circle, or directly into the Circle’s account in which case please inform in advance you are doing so.

Next Meetings: Tuesday 9^th April  Thursday 9^th May       Queen Square lies between Southampton Row and Gt. Ormond St. It can be reached by Underground using either Russell Sq. (Piccadilly) or Holborn (Piccadilly and Central). Buses 68, 91, 168 and 188 run along Southampton Row and 19, 38, 55 and 505 along Theobald's Rd. Access by car is one-way only: take the first turning to the left off Theobald's Rd (after the junction with Southampton Row) into Old Gloucester St which continues into Queen Sq. The Artworkers’ Guild is half way along on the left. The congestion charge finishes at 6 pm. Cars may readily be parked in Queen Square after 6:30 free of charge.

PRESS RELEASE 

Christopher Dresser (1834 –1904) was a designer and design theorist, now widely known as one of the first and most important, independent designers. 

He was a pivotal figure in the Aesthetic Movement and a major contributor to the allied Anglo-Japanese or Modern English style, both of which had long-lasting international influence.

FULL DETAILS & BOOKING FORM

GLASS ASSOCIATION AGM AGENDA

GLASS ASSOCIATION NOMINATION FORMS

GLASS CIRCLE AGM AGENDA

FULL DETAILS & BOOKING FORM

'300 Years of Glass in One Day'

On Sunday 23rd September there will be a real treat for lovers of glass when a new specialist fair comes to Ickworth House.

With around 40 exhibitors offering a wide selection of fine antique and collectable glass, ranging from Georgian drinking glasses through to contemporary studio pieces, this will be a wonderful day out in the beautiful surroundings of Ickworth house, park and gardens near Bury St Edmunds.

Brought to you by Specialist Glass Fairs Ltd, who also organise the Knebworth and National Glass Fairs, this event is a must whether you are seeking to add to your collection or just love beautiful things.

Entry to the house, gardens and fair is free for National Trust members or admission is £8.10 to the gardens which gives free entry to the fair.

Do put the date in your diary!

The fair is open from 10.30am-5.00pm, refreshments are available and there is free parking.

Ickworth Park, Horringer nr. Bury St. Edmunds  (IP29 5SA) on the A143 - follow the brown signs.

www.cambridgeglassfair.com 07887 762872

The June Glass Circle meeting ' The Art of Flame Glass Working ' by Sylvie Lhermite-King.

 16th Century Flame Glass Mirror Frame        Image (c) Corning Museum of Glass  Corning NY

   FULL DETAILS OF THE LECTURE.

Legend has it that West Stow Hall was built by Sir John Croftes, 'Master of the Horse to Mary Tudor', Dowager Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk, and that he had her coat of arms placed over the door to the gatehouse by way of a compliment to her. 

The current custodians of West Stow are Eileen and Andy Gilbert who have been in residence for approximately eight years. Andy has a large collection of glass, scattered around the house, ranging from Eighteenth century wine glasses through to Whitefriars and Lynn Glass.

This is your opportunity to view the house, including the C16th wall paintings, look at the glass collection and have a picnic in the glorious surroundings of West Stow

Full details of the meeting on the 23rd June

We start the day with the viewing of a member's collection of glass made in North West England.  We then visit the Gallery in Accrington which has the largest public collection of Tiffany Glass in Europe.

Lunch Menu.

Tiffany Mosaic   Image Credit (c) Hyndburn BC

Our understanding of the production of glass artefacts in early medieval England between the 5th and 7th centuries is limited. Scientific analysis of a large number of glass beads excavated from the early Anglo-Saxon cemetery complex at RAF Lakenheath (Eriswell), Suffolk, has provided new insights into the ways in which glass was procured and used in early medieval beadmaking. The results have revealed a number of distinct types of glass produced in the ‘Roman’ glassmaking tradition, which are likely to have their origins in the Near East. 

Full Details of the meeting on 24th May.

On 20th April, Glasmuseet Ebeltoft will open this year’s extensive summer exhibition, ’Scandinavian Glass – Starting All Over’. More than 70 artists and designers from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark are represented in the exhibition, which will be the largest presentation of Nordic glass for decades.

 Frida Fjellman  Sweden 'Une Touche de Soleil image(c) Museet Ebeltoft DK

Full Details  on view until 23rd September.

Joonas Laakso Finland 'Satelite 2 - 2017  Image(c) Museet Ebeltoft DK