Geoffrey Baxter at Whitefriars was not the first to use a bark like texture for mould blown items. I do not know who was first but bark textures were being used in Scandinavian designs for at least a few years before Mr Baxter started designing with textured finishes in the late sixties. Michael Harris was experimenting with the idea at some time between 1963 and 1965 - according to Mark Hill in his book on Mdina (page 13).
Who was first? Sarpaneva, Wirkkala, or....?
John