GLASS CIRCLE
NEWS
EDITORS
David Watts
27 Raydean Road
BARNET, Herts. EN51AN
John Towse
25-27 Curtain Road
London, EC2A 3P.H.
No.39
November 1987
GLASS CIRCLE OUTING – 12th SEPTEMBER 1987
ACcording to age-old wisdom any opportunity’to celebrate, should be taken by
entering into the spirit of the occasion. Our annual outing marked the
significance of the 50th Anniversary Exhibition of the Glass Circle by the
happy gathering of a large number of members and their friends at Broadfield
House Glass Museum on Saturday 12th September.
A coach from London was
filled by members in addition to a large number using their own transport.
An enthusiastic group, with understandable anticipation, waited patiently in
the late summer sunshine for the unavoidably delayed arrival of the coach
party.
All of us were rewarded by the extremely generous hospitality
organized by the Museum.who provided Bucks-Fizz to toast the opening. of the
exhibition and wine to accompany the profusely luxurious cold lunch; this
only added to our anticipation, of aesthetic pleasures to follow.
Our President, Robert Charleston, performed the opening_
.
ceremony with humour
and great charm.
Before cutting.the gold tape across the entrance he paid
tribute to the organizers of this great milestone in the Circle’s history
and presented a commemorative goblet, bearing the Circle logo, to the
Chairman of Dudley Recreational Services Committee.
Surging up the stairs we,were more than adequately rewarded by the sight of
the beautifully arranged and displayed slass, lent byour members, occupying
all the cabinets on the top floor of the museum.
In the absence of the
definitive version of the
:
catalogue, delayed at the printers, copies of the
catalogue. text were, provided to help us as we browsed..- Cameras clicked
merrily and… there. will surely be no shortage of photographic. records;
perhaps members will display their achievements at,.• future Glass Circle
meetings fot u$ all to enjoy,
,
After -viewing, anddUring the .secOdd tialf of
th
e
afternoon, we were treated
to a conducted :tour. Of Royal Brierley. Crystal.
First we watched a
deMonstration of Studio glass-making by two young aspiring glass artists who
gave us the appropriate explanations as the work – the creation of a
trail-decorated yase – progressed.
A charming interlude.
this was
followed by a visit to the “glass supermarket” of the factory where
purchases could be, and were, made of the commercial products of the firm,
often at bargain
y
prices..
Following this, and dodging the showers, we briefly visited the factory’s
private museum tucked away at the back of the site ,in the old family
residence.
It
.
consisted of the original Williams Thomas
:
collection of,
Mainly, 18th century glasses as well as superb..past and some present
products of the factory and an amusing. display of friggers.
We were again
reminded of the endless versatility of this medium.
Our visit to Royal
Brierley ended most hospitably with tea and biscuits and the firm resolve to
come again for, a more leasurely. perusal.
(Members should note that
advanced notification is required for a visit to the museum.)
The final visit was,.to Stuart Cryptal
.
Redhouse Museum.
Here we, saw the
RedhouSe cone, built during_the last decade.of.the 18th century„ It is 100
feet high and _60 feet.wide at,the base, and-one of only four remaining in
the country.
Apart from its impressive size, great names of British glass-
2
n
••
•
making are associated with it: Bradley, Ensell, RiChardson, Stuart,j4ebb,
Carder- names which led to the development of crystal -glass in England,
Waterford and ,the U.S.A.
Incidentally, it was here that Philip Pargeter
made the blank for John Northwood to carve the first replica of the
Portland vase using his rediscoveredtechnique for the production of.cameo
glass. The Stuart family are now actively preserving the Redhouse site to
bring it into use again as a working Victorian Glass Museum.
Our outing ended with a visit to
–
the Museum and shop of this factory., It
was a memorable day for all participants for which our grateful thanks are
due.. to
.
.Mrs Janet Benson, to mention only ,one,, for .organizing this. event at
some sacrifice to,-herself.
J.T.
THANKS FOR ‘STRANGE AND RARE’
•
This proved- to’ be a’ most imaginative and appropriate title fOrout
–
50th
Anniversary Exhibition.
Special
,
thanks go to Charles Hajdamach, Keeper and
Glass Circle member,’ for making
–
the
–
display”pOsSible:•dt
,
: BrOadfield House
Glass
.
Museum, and to Ian Burgoyne, Curator of The Pilkington Glass Museum
and another Circle’metber, whO, with the’perilittion of the’DireCtOrt, is to
stage -the exhibition at St Helen’s froM-Jinuary
,
17th 1988; – It is ‘a
particular strength” of the Glass Circle that it brings-together both amateur
and profestional in our common interes
.
We
“‘also
acknowledge the
invaluable support of our sponsort; both named and anonymous.
•
It. is difficult adequately to express appreciation of the selfless efforts
of the few who were closely involved in the organization, staging and
cataloging of this exhibition.
David Watts (not forgetting Rosemary and
Benedidt) and Philip Whatmoor sacrificed:their holidays and most of their
leisure time for many Months to make thit event a remarkable reality; Kate
Cfbwe, Henry Fax
–
and Chortles Hajdamach were the other active metbers.of the
Exhibition
–
Committee, while Rodger Dodtworth, Keeper of Glass”at Broad’field
House, played an invaluable role in bringing the magic of display to a
store-room full of exhibits.
For the attractive title at the entrance,
incorporating a novel•treatment’of the Glass Circle logb, we are:indebted to
the Art Department of Dudley Council. The result of their combined effort
ita Monument to the lOve and devotion inspired by glass c011ecting
The cover of the 76-page Exhibition Catalogue is appropriately.’ ‘printed -in
gold’ and carries pictures of two exhibits, a cannon’ and a “Crown/-table
centrepiece, that reinforce the title ‘Strange and Rare’.
tellg ‘the
story of the Circle and introduces us to the history of glass itself, and a
remarkable diversity of glass products which, in many ways, reflect the
character ‘of their owners.
Describing the exhibits in’ detail would hardly
do jdstice to their real significance.
Viewing with catalogue in hand is
the only way ‘to absorb and appreciate their historical and aesthetic
impOrtance.
For those of us whose interest is confined to a somewhat
narrow field, both= the Catalogue and the Exhibition itself are revelations
of the amazing breadth, scope
,
and beauty:yof glass outside our own
speciality.
They bear testimony to the discriminatingly selective taste of
members of the Glass Circle and the high Standard of glass-makers, ancient
and modern, set off by the exceptional rarity of-the special liians.
It is
the first time that the cuneiform clay tablet, the earliest in existence on
glass, has been exhibited outside the walls of the British Museum.’
In
summary, one gains a unique sense of perspective of all that is involved in
iglass collecting – a true reflection ‘Of what the Glass Circle is all about.
ti
– 3 –
Perhaps the only truly valid and objective comment one must make about the.
Catalogue is to suggest that no museum of private ceIiection.cAn be:complete
without .this publication. .It has well over 200 excellent photographs
addition
to :detailed destriptions
.
of the more than ‘260
–
listed:eXhibits,:
including
bookSfs_nd ephemera.. All members will receive one ‘free
copy
of`
the catalogue:
FUtther’ .copies
may
be purciiased frpM our
Treasurer, Tim.
Udall
at
Forge, Corner, Treston,.
. Bury St
Edmunds;
Suffolk, 1P31 1EW.
.
The
.
prite
15.00 Per copy plus 50p post and packing for one Cepy oi*poSt free
fof two copies or more.
Send them to your Itiende fOrthriStmas;; we
that all members will buy at least one further copy (on a print run of just
over a thousand it has
good
investment potential!).
Sale through bookshops,
will be for between 16
.
.00 and £6.50 per
J.T.
GLASS CIRCLE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
COMI4EMORATIV
FLUTE
AVAilablefer the .Official ‘Opening of the 50th Anniversary Exhibition
–
at
Broadfield HouSe,
ti,.e initialsWP
1
,5” of the C,OMMeMorative flute was sold’
out on September 12th, the first daY!
A further order has been placed,,
and
members who were
disappointedvat the Opening will Shortly receive their.
glasses.
The locally made lead crystal blanks (height 6.5
inches) have been decorated – a complex sequence of
operations – by R.
Everton, at his cutting shop,
Dawn _Crystal,
Thelower.half pf,the
.
bowl
is decorated Vith
.
Cut
f
diamonds,
and_
the
upper
halt , is
matt-engravedWithfloral motifS iiith_polished centres
to the
.
:flowers.
It Is then Sand=etthed with the
name and logo of The Glasi Circle and he dates of our
foundation and golden jubilee.
The .prite of the commemorative :flUte has been
deliberately :.kept low at £11 50′ plus £1.50 post
and
i
packing “(if youare unable to collect your glass
at
4: .meeting)
. Matching,’ ,Unbadged flutes Are
available at the price Of 18 50 (+:11.50 p+p for one;
at:
test for Multiples)
Pleathe send your ‘order and cheque to::
Dr•D.CWatts;
27,’Raydean Road,
BARNET, Betts
‘145 IAN
for enquiries:-
Tel: 01-449-7666
POSTERS FOR ‘STRANGE AND RARE’
A few spare copies of the exhibition.poster are availalge at £1.20 including
postage. It is of A3 size in an unusual shade of pink, with black and
–
white
–
pictures .of- some: of the.exhibits in addition to
the
usual information.
was produced-by,Dudley Leisure Services Art
,
I)epartment.- – Apply to D.C.W.
4
LALIQUE GLASS AT BONHAMS
In ackoWledgement of the
–
Glass Circle’s Golden Jubilee, Bonhams invited
members to a Reception and’Private’View of the Lalique glass and prints to
be Offered for sale on Thursday, OctObe’r 8th. ‘A goodly contingent from the
Glass Circle availed themselves of this’opportunity to inspect an impressive
selection of a kind of glass in which probably few were very knowledgeable
-.An company witha,..contrasting-crowdLof,yiewers both expert and sizzling
with enthusiasm.
If nothing else,. the immense versatility of glass as a mediut was once again
proven.
Maybe, to most of us, glass is primarily delicate, fluid and
brilliantly refractive; in the tradition launched* by Lalique’s creative
mind, it is chunky, sculptural, translucent – and admirably does it serve
him.
It seemed to me that
.
these were, art-works exactly, suited tp,. the
ambience
–
‘
–
for which the contempora
ry Word’is
–
Cool”. ” Perhaps that explains.
their current immense ‘POpularity!’ But was there a name fot*it at the time
when these frosty, largely colourless, admirably precise pieces were first
created?
•
All of us who were there Were delighted to have this chance’ to broaden our
horizens, and we were full of admiration for Lalique’s vision and for the
qUality of workmanship evident in every piece
.
.. ,SO far as I know, none of
us formed a lasting passion for this new”field to Which
–
Our eyes were opened
– but this is; after all, only the 1Yrsi:year of.Our second half century!
I am sure all who came would join me in expressing thanks to. Bonhams for
giVing us this enlightening and enjoyable evening.
RW
THE* EARLIEST BOTTLE SEAL?
In the last GC News we quoted from the literature that the earliest known..,
dated seal from a bottle; that for John Jefferson’, was 1652.
However, ‘Mrs:,
Rosemary Weihstein from the MuSeUM:
of
‘London has written
–
6 tell us’ `that’
1980 she found a green. bottle seal dated’
1650′ bfi
–
the foreshore at :Bull Wharf,
Queenhithe – on the north bank of the
Thames near St Paul’s Cathedral.
The
accompanylng’drawing of it shows that
it
also bears the initials ,W.E. which must
surely.be a good omen for Wendy Evans
who is currently working flat out on the
Whitefriars Exhibition at the London
Museum
now not much more than a
month away.
But before you all dash
down to the, Thames,. mud for a grovel
don’t forget your
–
wellies and keep an
. eye out for the tide!
POWELL/WHITEFRIARS CORRESPONDENTS REQUIRED
Brian Balman, a new member who collects Powell/Whitefriars glass, would
enjoy correspondence with other members on research of James Powell & Sons
and related subjects.
His address is 22, Winterdyne Mews, Andover, Hants.
SP10 3AG.
Diameter of seal – 42 mm.
WEBB’S MUSEUM DESPOILED IN COLOROLL TAKEOVER •
Ever since the sale of the Northwood copy of the Portland Vase, it has been
obvious that any historical object less than 100 years old in private hands
.is at risk to leave the country, irrespective of its relevance for the
national heritage.
That this is so reflects public apathy, and
sdisinterest in such matters at the government level.
Indeed, the vendor’s
concern for getting, a fair price and the govenment’s determination to avoid
any financial responsibility has ensured, preservation of the status quo.
The dismantling of the Thomas Webb Museum, however handled, would have
caused local distress.
As
reported to. us by a reliable source, following
the Coloroll
,
takeover, a few informal enquiries were made as to possible
purchasers of’the museum contents for a ‘megabuck’ .,sum.
The next thing
that happened was that a local man, a noted historian who had a small, office
in the museum, arrived one morning to find the contents of his office
scattered far and wide and, the entire museum ripped out and gone;
some, of
his personal papers were never recovered.
It is:believed that the best of
the museum, which included fine cameo and wheel engraving and pieces cut by
known craftsmen,
–
has been sold to a museum in Texas.
On the positive side, it appears that the Webb factory is to survive and
that Dennis Hall, which hdused the museum, is to be restored, with the
removal of unsightly nineteenth century additions.
As well as offices,
this will ultimately house a new museum – appropriately stocked, no doubt,
to compete with the attractions of Stuart’s and Royal Brierley.
D.C.W.
PILKINGTON GLASS MUSEUM -St Helens, Merseyside
The Curator, Ian Burgoyne, writes to let us .know of the special glass
exhibition which precedes our own exhibition, ‘Strange and Rare’.
It is on
show until December 15th 1987, and is’called “Glass-Mass”.
“Reflection, refraction, optical qualities and liquid colours, are
the dominating factors of this unique exhibition”
in which the,
designer, John Smith, uses,
a
r
ass pins., pinions, bushes and clips as
well as thick pieces of float glass,to construct objects in which, ,
“the elements of mind…are transformed into physical images”.
New Acquisitions:
. Ian also writes that some interesting items haire
recently been added to the Pilkington collection.
These include: two glass
sculptures “Castor et Pollux” designed by Salvador Dali and made by
Baccarat (1986); a Master Cutter’s piece (1987) from Waterford Crystal; an
abstract sculpture by Livio Seguso (1978) of Venice;
and, from The
Glasshouse, Lofigacre,.LOndan, a carved, scent bottle’by David Taylor (1985)
and a basket, apple and pear by Annette Meech (1986).
_
.
.
.
•
•
,,, •
We conclude that there is much to see
.
at
St Helens, making it
–
indeed “worth
a’ special visit”.
The SUNDERLAND INTERNATIONAL GLASS FESTIVAL planned for April 1988, will
not now take place.
Brian
.
Sefton, Head of Applied Studies in Art and Design at Sunderland
Polytechnic; writes to let us know that the organisers were forced to
abandon their plans through lack of sufficient sponsorship.
– 6 –
Book Review:
GLASS ON STAMPS
by F.G.A.M. Smit
As a thematic interest for a committed philatelist, the subject of decorative
glass might be’ pretty small beer.
But, as this book reveals, .it makes a
charming extension to the interest of the glass collector.
The 67 pages (A5
size) show black and white pictures of 107 stamps, at roughly three times
normal size, from 42 counties.
Each is accompanied by a description of the
glass interest with appropriate comments.- Five sections cover core-formed
glass, glass blowing, hollow glassware, other glass and glass personalities.
Stadps may
–
he considered as
miniature works
of art and it is of interest to
see how different countries treat a technical subject like glass blowing.
‘The
.
Swedish approach is clearly based on cleverly taken photographs.
The
–
other •extreme-, of pictorial romanticism,: is- shown by a Polish stamp’ depicting
-stocky-bearded enigrant, in’baggy troUSers and broad-brimmed hat; blowing a
large bulb of glass with an unusualiY.icing blowing`iron, in the middle of an
-extremely large field!
In the background, close to some thatched buildings,
two men tend a conical glass furnace:
A Pol.ish inscription says “Jamestown –
‘the first glasshouse
‘
`built in America by Poles.”-‘”
–
perhaps this particular
contribution to a seriek on “Poles in American life” is one that our Polish
glass-making collegues might sooner forget!
Mr Smit fills in the true facts
on ”the ‘Subject:
In’fairness, it seems that artist’s of all countries tend to
lack that “eye for detail with which ‘they are often credited.
‘Maybe there
are tore left-hAnded glass bloWers than one’might imagine, ‘or dOes the mirror
image sometimeS:fft more artistically on the stamp?’
– •
The largest section, hollow glassware, ranges from the unvarnished depiction
`of a particular glaSs, the reason for the choice’not al’way’s’ being obvious, to
reproductions of paintings in which the glass is of secondary importance.
Although three British ‘stamps’ (Christmas issues) are shown, both the U;K: and
Ireland have an abysmal track record in promoting our
.
national industries.
There are’ four por’Eraite:of glass person
i
alitie,although one of them, Otto
Schott, hardly qualifies, as scientific’ glass is excluded.
At £4.50 including P & P (from: Smitsonian Books, 15, The Ridgway, FLITWICK,
Beds. MK45 1DH ), this book is excellent value fbr
In6npy_ and
few vili
?
fail to
find ‘it
–
‘
–
both stimulating and ‘informative.”
If doet not claim
•
to be
comnrehensive although, knowing just how meticuloUs the.author’is, rthink he
wilrbe disappointed if anyone cane find a stamp he has missed!
DCW
CONSTABLE-MAXWELL CAMEO CUP HEADING FOR RECORD PRICE AGAIN?
We glean
–
from “The Connoiseur”‘ •that Sotheby’s
Roman’find
–
dr”the ConStable-Maxwells, a scyPhus or
cup, possibly used ‘by Nero
The blue and
charioteers in action and is of top
–
quality.
The
another record glass price on November 20th.
are to sell another ancient
small two=handled stemmed
white caneo carving depicts
item night well Set up
dontmiss dontmiss
STRANGE’ AND R A B E
dontmissdontmiss
GLASS. CIRCLE .GOLDEN JUBILEE EXHIBITION
”
. :.’ •
UNTIL: December 13th 1987
BROADFIELD HOUSE
GLASS MUSEUM
FROM:’
January 17th
to March 20th’I9’88
.at, the 4I4KINgTON
GLASS
‘MU
SEUM
Kingswinford, West Midlands
St Helens, Merseyside