Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. > Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic, Austria
Re: E. Downey
Sklounion:
Hi Frank,
Vitrea (Merchants) Ltd
Showrooms at 12-16 Clerkenwell Road, London E.C.1
Definitely still there in 1964. But when they started?
The Downey items have post-war numbers (some of them) but there is a vase with three swans to the base, inspired by European vase designs from Brockwitz and Inwald themselves, which looks very 1930s. It could also be, that Downey designed Inwald items that are now wrongly assumed to be from the Barolac range.
Regards,
Marcus
Frank:
"Dr. Markovic said he had left Czechoslovakia in March, 1948, and could not say very much about events there since. He knew, however, that all non-Communist employees had been discharged. During the last twelve months, he had heard that sales departments had been divorced from the manufacturing side, the former now being divided into two separate departments, one (DUTA) being responsible for the home trade, and the other (VITREA) dealing with exports. The regional groupings were being abolished and individual works were now under direct control of the central organisation."
PG>R Jan 1950 courtesy glass-study.com
Sklounion:
Hi Frank,
Not sure how this works then, as we know Skloexport (Glassexport) appeared in 1948. There does not appear to be any other organisation handling export, other than Jablonex. Certain small companies, (less than 50 employees) were still advertising in early 1948, in CGR, as exporting from the Jablonec region.
Is Vitrea London, a wholly-owned Czechoslovakian subsidiary, in which case, why employ Downey as a designer?
Do you have a pre-war gazetteer from PG and GTR, Frank, and is there any mention of Vitrea, pre-war?
Thanks and regards,
Marcus
Frank:
Well well, PG 1933 - Vitrea Union Bottle and Glassware Co,. Ltd., 173 Evelyn St, Deptford
Appears under both
British Glass Manufacturers AND Directory of London Merchants, Factors & Importers.
Possibly unrelated to that one:
PG 1962 directory of importers - Vitrea (Merchants) Ltd. 12, Clerkenwell Road, EC1. Agents for Glassexport (Bohemia Glass; Moser: Rhapsody: Harmony: Pizzicato: Hartil: Durit. (Also an advert)
But possibly not a conicidence of name. So company records for both of the above? Might reveal why a designer was needed.
Sklounion:
Hi Frank,
Possible that this is one and the same:
Vitrea (Merchants) Ltd, registered company from 31/12/1926. Obviously the same company that was at 12 -16 Clerkenwell Rd. Cannot find whether or not there was a name change at some point, but will check this further.No name change shown as Companies House seem only to keep these for 20 years.
Thanks and regards,
Marcus
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