Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. > Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic, Austria

Re: E. Downey

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AndrewPerrott:
I joined Vitrea Merchants as a salesman in 1958. At that time Vitrea had premises in Charterhouse Square and Edwin Downey
was a full time employee. He was commissioned by Glassexport and importers to design glass objects that would subsequently
be produced in Czechoslovakia and imported to the U.K. He was an outstanding draughtsman and designer and had the ability
to produce one dimensional drawings that were such that the capacity of an object was always correct as desired. In the early
sixties Vitrea moved from Charterhouse Square to Clerkenwell Road London E1 and Glassexport  (Skloexport) moved from Wenceslas Square Prague to Liberec north Bohemia. I became a director of Henry Marchant Ltd , wholly owned by Glassexport,
and Downey designed for me a number of items including a water set and a fruit set that were produced in Lednicke Rovne which
proved to be very successful with major retailers in the U.K. In the early sixties Downey left Vitrea and commenced working with
an importing concern named Max Emanuel who were located in the Hatton Garden area of London. I lost touch with Downey
shortly afterwards.
Andrew Perrott.

AndrewPerrott:
In 1958 Vitrea Merchants were located in Charterhouse Square London E1 and I and Edwin Downey were employed by Vitrea.
The then managing director was Antonin Vomacka .In the early sixties Vitrea moved to Clerkenwell Road E1 where Downey
continued as draughtsman and designer. At that time Downey resigned from Vitrea and was employed by an importing concern
by the name of Max Emanuel and they were located in the Hatton Garden area. I subsequently became a director of Henry Marchant Ltd (wholly owned by Glassexport)and Edwin Downey designed some items that we imported at that time
I lost touch with Downey in the late sixties.

Andrew Perrott.

Frank:
Many thanks Andrew for clearing up all the loose threads on this topic.

Anne:
Hello Andrew, welcome to the board, and thank you for adding your really interesting information.

Would you have any photos of the designs you mention, which you'd be able to add into this topic for us please, as this is such an interesting yet less well-known area, and we'd love to see what his designs were. If you need technical help with adding pics please do feel free to email me directly. :)

Frank:
Another footnote:

Max Emanuel Company are another general pottery and glass importers established in 1880s. Covering most of Europe and including table glass from Czechoslovakia in the 60s.

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