Topic: Isle of Man OR other copies of Isle of Wight's Minimal and Maximal range

[Anne E.B.]

There is a link.  I too have an animal with a triangular St.John's Crystal label, although it isn't in azurene but a kind of mottled 'tortoise shell' effect.  The Isle of Wight Studio Glass Forum kindly informed me that a range of animals was produced for a very limited period between 1983-5.  They were produced at St.Johns Crystal on the Isle of Man for commercial reasons.  There was a range of 18 different animals and they were called maximals or minimals depending on size and produced in 'Black Azurene' and 'Gold Azurene' and originally a coloured range which must be mine. 

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n.b.  Just spotted Steve's reply with link before posting the above. 

[Frank]

Did anyone ever follow up those left in a warehouse? The Zoo would like some images of these too  

Can mods merge this thread with the linked one if they think it a good idea?

 Mod: done

[rosieposie]

I would like to thank all of you who have taken the trouble to reply. I have read the link, and that has some very interesting reading.  Does anyone know who actually made the minimals range.....was it Michael Harris?
I have squirrels, hedghogs, birds and ducks, and some of them have exquisite detail.
Any further information, especially about the St.John's crystal factory making the pieces for commercial reasons, would be appreciated......is there a website I can go to for more info?

[Lustrousstone]

The Maximals and Minimals were made at St John's Glass under license from Michael for the Azurene finish. Two former Wedgwood glassmakers made the pieces and trained new glassmakers, hence the similarity of some of the animals with some of the Wedgwood animals. Michael conceived the other designs. Info Michael Harris Mdina Glass & Isle of Wight Studio Glass, Mark Hill http://www.markhillpublishing.com/

[rosieposie]

Thank you so much for that information. I know so much about Langham glass, but very little about this lot, and was totally ignorant of the Wedgwood connection. I have a minimal elephant as well, and thought it looked so like the Wedgwood shape!!

I will have to post a message about another piece I have.....this has been so helpful.
Any other info on St. John's or IOW glass will always be appreciated......never too old to learn!!