The Glass Society

This illustrated presentation about British glass designer Daniel Pearce (1817-1907) documents a remarkable seven-decade design evolution. From 1840s art student at the new Government School of Design to international recognition at international world’s fairs for designing fantastical engraved glass objects such as the Hamilton Vase and Morrison Tazza.

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Image (c) Rakow Library, Corning Museum of Glass

On 3 October 1903, the County Express revealed this local news in a single sentence: ‘This week ten “Society” glassmen have left the neighbourhood for America. Glassworkers from the Stourbridge district attempted to immigrate to America because Frederick Carder promised them jobs in the new Steuben Glass Works at Corning, New York.

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Who made the Hedwig Glasses? How, when and where were they made? Many theories have been proposed regarding this mysterious and unique group of some fourteen relief cut and polished early medieval glass tumblers now scattered among the treasuries and museums of Northern Europe and America.

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Our AGM will be held on Zoom on Tuesday 20 February at 18:30 hours. It will be followes by a show & tell session

Image(c) Alison Kinnaird

Wheel engraving is an ancient technique, practised for more than 2000 years. Alison Kinnaird loves to work with tradition, but believes that it is constantly moving forward. She uses the old methods of working, and combines these with modern technology, including LED lighting, and creates a story with contemporary relevance, while maintaining the very special character and unique qualities of glass.

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I have been researching the Stuart and Sons company archive for a book to be published in due course.

Whilst studying the pattern books from the late 19th century, I discovered several engraved vessels in the Aesthetic taste about which little is known.

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IFG -The International Festival of Glass is being held over the August Bank Holiday Weekend.

Image (c)  Cloud Pot 1    Eunsuh Choi

IFG PROGRAMME

Image (c) Sound Ideas Media - Cheese Burn Sculpture Gardens Northumberland 2019

The technique of fabricating glass apparatus using a gas burner is called scientific glassblowing.

Laboratory glassware is generally made of borosilicate glass, Pyrex being one prominent brand. James A. Jobling Ltd., Sunderland, became the home of British Pyrex production.

In the 1970s, however, the glassblowers of this major UK centre were made redundant. Some of these skilled artisans turned to producing glass giftware. 

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Lattimo Plate(c) 1741  View The Grand Canal   (c) Bonhams

In the 18th century, it was the tradition especially for wealthy young British gentlemen, to complete their education by travelling throughout Europe, with Italy as their main destination.

The Grand Tour, as it became known, enriched their lives by an appreciation of the classical arts

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In the years around 1900, the artists of the École de Nancy elevated glass art to an entirely new level.

Among the high-quality works, one object stands out: the so-called ' Main aux algues et aux coquillages'.

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The age of a glass can be important to a collector
in a number of different ways. For some an antique
glass is a window into the past and its date informs
their muse on what events it may have ‘seen’, or who
might have drunk from it. 

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This will be a personal story. Along the way I would like to show you some of my favourite glasses and why they are my favourites.

Originally I collected candlesticks. But when I met my wife and she came to live with me, these depressed her. So I moved to glasses. 

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Noticing the name “Powell” used for all forms of British Arts & Crafts glassware, Nigel shows how he determines features identifying which company made a particular piece. This ongoing search relies on observation, looking for ‘touch stone’ items – readily identifiable by a known manufacturer, informing the colours and forms from that company.

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Tiny, delicate, and beautiful: the Blaschka glass models capture the ethereal mystery of the deep sea.

Over 10,000 of them were created and distributed worldwide by father and son Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka in the nineteenth century.

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