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Sowerby Pea Blossom Glass
ChrisStewart:
Hi Bernard,
The advert was contained in the 'Fancy Glass Supplement' to the Pottery Gazette so I assume Sowerby were using this material to make fancy or table glass.
The information about the discovery of this 'Natural Glass' and Sowerby being having the sole distribution rights was contained in a short 'Notes' section from the Pottery Gazette earlier that year.
As Sowerby is one of the best documented glass houses, I am surprised that it is not mentioned in any of the books.
Regards
Chris
Bernard C:
Chris,
Was PG only for fancy or table glass? And would "fancy" have included jewelry, for instance?
I expect you have checked up on Sowerby's patents around 1890. In case you haven't, you'd probably find this unproductive.
#3286, 1 March 1890 was for "moulds for blowing and moulding jugs, gas globes and other hollow ware", and
#not known, 23 December 1890 was for "cutting by electricity".
None of the other nearby Sowerby patents looks promising.
This thread may well surprise some readers who thought of Sowerby as a pressed glass works. Not so. It is difficult to find any aspect of glass manufacturing that Sowerby did not get involved with at one time or another.
One of the worst injustices prevalent today is the praise heaped upon Dr Christopher Dresser for the "Clutha" studio glass he designed, made by James Couper & Sons of Glasgow. In fact it was almost straight plagiarism of Sowerby's studio art glass, lauched some three years earlier. Simon Cottle attempted to correct this in his book accompanying the 1986 Sowerby exhibition, but no-one seems to have taken much notice. Or, are there vested interests at work here in maintaining the high price of examples of Clutha glass?
Sorry Chris, I strayed into tub-thumping mode! I must keep to the subject.
Regards, Bernard C.
Anonymous:
Hi Bernard,
I have just noticed my posting said 'Fancy Glass Supplement' it should be 'Fancy Goods supplement' as it covers both pottery and glass.
The supplement was started in 1890 I think and ran for a few years. Printed on mainly yellow paper it carried adverts and articles for the fancy goods side of the pottery and glass trade. For example in 1890 and 1891 Davidson had colour inserts in the supplement promoting Blue and Primrose Pearline.
I don't think it included jewelry. I have never encountered jewelry discussed in the pottery gazette.
Chris
Bernard C:
Chris,
Pea Blossom is a colour of glass. There is a section on its formulation in:
Gillinder, William; Treatise on The Art of Glass Making 2nd edition; CBLS, 2002, ISBN 1878907816. Strange title - I wonder if it is a reprint of an old book?
At USD $159.00 it is rather expensive. You might like to try your local library for an interlibrary loan copy, but please don't use up all their budget as I need the same service occasionally! Otherwise there is probably a reference copy at Broadfield House.
Regards, Bernard C.
Frank:
(Operative glass-maker Birmingham)
A Treatise on the Art of Glass Making, Containing 272 Practical Receipts for Flint, Coloured, Crown, German Sheet, Plate and Bottle Glass; to which is added a Treatise on the Alkalis, Oxides, Silex, etc., Used in the Mixing and Colouring of Glass; and General Instructions for the Planning and Management of Flint and Coloured Glass Manufacture. 2nd Ed. Pp 128 8vo Birmingham. W. Gillinder, 1854. (1st Ed. 1851.)
======================================
So it is a reprint! Extortionately priced too and too early for this Natural Glass. If Sowerby had distribution rights only the glass is probably from another country.
What is an operative glass-maker?
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