Topic: Small blue vase with gold leaf overlay - ID = Dartington Studio

[mikebonne]

anyone know the origins of this litttle vase please

[glassobsessed]

Welcome to the message board.

That looks like a modern Dartington mark http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-5375

I didn't know they had been using goldleaf for decoration, nice effect.

John

[Anne]

Welcome to the board.  

I've amended your subject line to something more descriptive to catch the eye of those who might be able to add more.

Please see our Techie Tip here as to why subject lines are important: http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,17458.0.html

[MarkHill]

Hi,
Yes, I think this is from the Dartington 'Studio' range. Each piece is unique in terms of its decoration, precise shape, size etc by virtue of the fact that it is handmade. Gold leaf and random striated and/or mottled patterns in strong colours are typical. I don't have much information on this range, which isn't terribly common. I am almost 100% sure that it was not designed by Frank Thrower, so would imagine that it dates from after the mid-80s, as Frank died in 1987. Dartington themselves may be able to help.
Hope this helps,
Mark

[flying free]

Hi
this is my piece, and it has the same impressed mark on the base.

http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,23594.msg131886.html#msg131886

I search periodically to try and find more information on this but not much is available.
If you do a search on the board I think there are a couple more pieces to view.
regards
m

[chopin-liszt]

It is from the very short-lived Dartington Studio range.

I found some pieces in a posh furniture and home decor shop, (from new), around 2002, and took a very serious interest, they were such wonderful bits of glass.

What I managed to find out, at the time, was that this Studio range was based around using classical designs, and making their own take on them, using old-fashioned methods and colours.

The "Alchemy" design was a "take" on Monart "Cloissonne" design, but using gold foil as well (absolutely beautiful pieces I'll get an image of mine when the light's better). My brother was here in Dundee at the time, and I dragged him along to the shop where he bought a few of the style in the link posted above, which is another "take" on Monart Cloissonne, but the design flattened into the casing. I also ordered a large charger in a deep red, with this foil pattern on it, a "take" on the old Venetian style gold foiled pieces, from the Stuart shop in Crieff, as they were carrying the Dartington studio ranges around that time.
Following these patterns, they launched into making "cranberry" glass, with swirly, optic ribbing, using gold to make the correct ruby colour.

However, it turned out that it was getting incredibly expensive to make these pieces, and folk were simply not prepared to pay the premium they cost, and the Studio folded. (I don't know exactly when, but it was shortly after I "discovered" it).

[flying free]

Hi Sue and Mark
thank you so much for that information and detail  
As I always say, my experience is severely limited, but I think it is a beautiful and beautifully made, piece of glass.
m

[chopin-liszt]

I do believe that since then, there has been another set of Studio ranges produced, called "Innovate". Not, I'm afraid, as interesting as the first, in my opinion.

[flying free]

Found this link on here after Sue's mention of Innovate.  I do like these also   but in a further thread someone mentions buying one as recently as last year.  I also thought (memory not good so can't find any more info) that there was another range that was more pastel coloured (satin glass perhaps?) that was a more recent Dartington production but I could be wrong

http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,25850.0.html

m

[nigel benson]

Sue,

I'm sorry to be picky, but I think more accurately there is no evidence that these ranges were, as you put it, a 'take' on Monart, although there is some similarity in the technique that Monart/Moncrieff called 'Cliosonne'.

There is, however, some discussion to be had by relating them to the contemporary maker William Shakespeare, based in Taunton, Somerset. I recall from a conversation that I had with him about 5 years ago that he produced some designs for Dartington. Unfortunately, I cannot repeat the conversation, since either he, or I, could get into deep water, if you get my drift

Not shown here, but this is the link to his website: www.shakspeareglass.co.uk

I also recall mention of a woman designer who is actually reputed to have designed these surface crackled pieces for Dartington. I believe I have the information somewhere, but not easily to hand at the moment.

Nigel