Hi All,
Nigel and Jeanette are, of course, quite right - not that a fresh-faced newbie such as me would question their experience, expertise and research anyway!
The Studio at RB and the RB Studio Range are different things, the former later than the latter I believe. I know nothing about the former, but can help with the latter.
It was indeed Michael Harris who designed the Royal Brierley Studio range - the iridescent ranges produced in a deep blue/black, pink, and clear/white, which have an acid stamp to the base. I recall being told that the darkest range was called something like 'Shadow Wave', but I may have mis-remembered the name. I've seen baluster and globe-ish vases in different sizes and shapes, table centrepiece type fruit bowls, and half a million perfume atomisers!
The range was based on designs from a range designed by MH and in production at Isle of White Studio Glass at the time - Ribbons, Lace, Silk & Satin. The specific designs used were Silk & Lace. I need to check exactly which one as I believe that there was some confusion as to which exact design was called Silk, Satin or Lace when I was doing my research with the Harrises. I will get back to you on this one as I know I now have the right piece of paper at home, ie; a recently discovered original sales flyer showing the three designs, each with their correct name. It was particularly the finish, iridescence and colours of the base glass that were used for RB's range.
As Nigel says, RB were modernising, but also wanted to take advantage of the rising interest in handmade 'Studio' glass. They needed something that could be produced at their Tipton plant mechanically and efficiently (often using moulds already in existence, for example light fittings) but gave the visual impression of being handmade.
I have seen a very exciting large globe vase, in a colour and pattern very close to the darkest Studio range colourway, that is signed 'TMH 86 C' of similar - for 'Copyright Timothy Mark Harris 1986'. This was made at IOWSG and has been confirmed by Timothy Harris as the sample/prototype piece he made with his father for presentation to RB. This of course also helps us with a date - 1986. I also know that a Ltd company was founded in 1988 to primarily handle income/documents from RB, further pinning dates down. All of this is in my book, specifically pp67 and 112-113, and I'll also be including 1 page on the glass in next year's 'DK Collectables Price Guide 2008 by Judith Miller' and I, due for release in early Autumn this year.
However, try as I might, I could not find any other related documents anywhere. The Harris archive sadly does not appear to contain anything else - I used what was there and what Elizabeth and Timothy Harris remembered. Maybe I contacted and visited the wrong people at RB - who knows? I'd love to have seen a catalogue, for example, for range names and shapes produced at the very least. If RB produced a catalogue each year, these would of course show when the range came in and was withdrawn, and how it was marketed.
Hope this helps confirm things a little more - plenty more work to be done on this one tho!!
All the best,
Mark
www.markhillpublishing.com