Glass Message Board

Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Glass Books => Topic started by: Angela B on December 02, 2012, 05:02:23 AM

Title: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: Angela B on December 02, 2012, 05:02:23 AM
For the best part of the past ten years I have been interviewing people and collecting information about three very special lampworking operations in London during the 2nd half of the 20th century. They were Bimini-Orplid, Pirelli, and Komaromy. This year it is all coming together and I hope to be ready to publish it within a few months.
The other part of the story is that I invested in a super new camera (a Nikon digital SLR) and started taking the pictures for my book.

And that's where the inspiration for the Pirelli Glass Calendar came from.
In my view it is very important for collectors to have accurate information for identification. And for each of my London Lampworkers there is a fair amount of inaccurate information being passed on. So this year's Pirelli Glass Calendar is just a start. It has clear coloured photographs of 36 different Pirelli figurines, all from my own collection and all identified by their labels. There are, of course, many more than this, but I had to keep some for my book and for next year's calendar!

There aren't many of these Pirelli Glass Calendars - in fact there are only fifteen of them for sale. So if you are a Pirelli collector or dealer, or you have to buy a Christmas present for somebody who is, if you order one now I will get it to you for Christmas. Go to http://www.glass-time.com/Pirelli.html

There is another thing. By buying a Pirelli Calendar you will be supporting the Glass Messages Board, because the money you pay will help towards the costs of operating this website which I pay for.

Hope you like the idea
Title: Re: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: KevinH on December 02, 2012, 06:05:59 PM
Any cats in that calendar? ;D
Title: Re: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: wolkenreb on December 02, 2012, 08:53:17 PM
I've ordered mine!  :)

Angela, does your Goofy have an ear missing?
Title: Re: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: Anne on December 03, 2012, 12:35:05 AM
I think it's a fab idea!!!
Title: Re: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: Angela B on December 03, 2012, 01:28:55 AM
Hi Wolkenreb,
Many thanks for your order - I'll get your calendar posted today. Goofy doesn't have an ear missing - its hanging down behind his neck. There's another picture inside the calendar from a different angle showing the two ears! I'm sure you'll enjoy the calendar. Good luck with your collecting.
Kevh - the only cats in this calendar are Pirelli Glass cats. They're a lot cheaper to look after!
 ;)

Millions of thanks for your support
Angela
Title: Re: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: wolkenreb on December 03, 2012, 01:47:24 AM
Thanks Angela. I'll be a very proud owner! I have a few Pirelli figures including a Goofy with a broken ear (broken by me sadly) and I thought maybe yours had suffered the same fate. Glad to hear not.  :)

PS looking forward to the book!
Title: Re: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: John Smith on December 15, 2012, 06:59:45 PM
... erm, I have been a lamp worker in London myself. I still have all of my glass blowing equipment and one of these days I may just set up again. It's just the cost and other issues such as Health & Safety, and it's not like I can do it from home! I miss it terribly.
Title: Re: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: wolkenreb on December 15, 2012, 08:48:36 PM
I'm so glad you've joined us, John! Welcome!   :)  It's seems a shame that you can't do what you love doing any more. Are you a retired lamp worker? Or have you had to move into another type of employment, or unemployment (now known as jobseeking)? I know next to nothing about lamp working, but from the few videos I've seen I'd have thought it is something you could do at home without H&S legislation being involved. What did you used to make?
Title: Re: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: wolkenreb on December 15, 2012, 10:40:10 PM
Hi Wolkenreb,
Many thanks for your order - I'll get your calendar posted today.
Millions of thanks for your support
Angela

Pirelli calendar arrived yesterday.  :). I love it. Thank you, Angela. Gorgeous pictures and great information.
Title: Re: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: John Smith on December 15, 2012, 10:44:06 PM
Thank you for your words of kindness. I studdied the art of scientific glass blowing, to teach me preciseness at the lamp. One is only then as good as ones own artistic ideas to produce items which appeal to others. Glass blowing at home is a no-go for many reasons... I use/used borosilicate glass which requires oxygen coupled with gas in order to melt it at higher temperature than soda lime glass.. Bottled oxygen is very volatile and dangerous and so is not readilly available.. Neither are the chemicals needed to colour this glass. Borosilicate can be liekened to "PYREX" in that it is strong and not as fragile as other glass types, but then again to colour this glass is complex, and that is when folks such as I step in, with on-going artistic development... hopefully. Kindest regards to you.
Title: Re: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: John Smith on December 15, 2012, 11:02:25 PM
Wolkenreb... Here are a pair of examples of my work. But not typical of it. I developed the mercury/mirrored effects back in the 1980s. I produced in the main, Japanese bonsai, and floral (Ikebina) arrangements using glass. All of which were exported to Japan. The other pics are trial pieces of mine.
Title: Re: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: wolkenreb on December 15, 2012, 11:45:04 PM
I don't know what to say! I feel honoured that you've shown us some of your work. Please show us more and, if i'm not being too nosey, I'd love to know more about your work and why you're not doing it any more. (Just love the humming bird. Why were all your bonsais exported? Too many questions!???!)

Title: Re: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: John Smith on December 16, 2012, 12:09:07 AM
.... Haaaa  ;D  I exported due to nothing else except for marketing purposes. The economic recessions here were truly bad. I even moved and lived in India, to be more close to my market place, but those days have now gone. I am not here to brag, but I have a wealth of designs of my own and also much artistic nowledge & development to colour glass. It is not something which I care to share, due to copyright. My ART has taken me many years to accomplish. I am not about to simply give that away. I hope that you appreciate this, without any offence. Many Blessings, John.
Title: Re: London Lampworkers = Pirelli Glass Calendar 2013
Post by: Angela B on December 20, 2012, 04:38:11 AM
I love your hummingbird, John. It is very beautiful.

On the subject of Pirelli, I still have about ten Pirelli Glass Calendars left. They would make a great gift for a Pirelli collector. Can be ordered from: http://www.glass-time.com/Pirelli.html

Best regards
Angela