Topic: ChanceGlass.net : cataloguing Fiestaware patterns

[David E]

It might be best to deal with these separately...

Very much so. Keep separate groupimgs for colour, shape and design. My Strathearn catalogues were getting into a mess until I realised this to be the best approach... once I get the new versions finished of course :?

Yes, my thoughts as well. I'm not sure how far I'll go with this, as cross-referencing which pattern was used on which shape could prove rather exhaustive, but I have already started a 'Shapes' page and will note the various patterns.

Fortunately, the colours are far more limited (except the Handkerchief vases), so I might keep this on the 'Patterns' page.

[Anne E.B.]

I found this whilst rooting around in boxes in the garage.  It has all the hallmarks of Chance, but I've never seen matching candle holders before(?)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/bowl020.jpg

It has a very small base, which causes it to be easily knocked. There is a screw in the centre which attaches to the candle holder part.  I just wondered if this would have been attached to a larger dish lower down, rather like the tiered cake stands.  Apologies for poor picture.  Combination of rushing to do chores and poor light (my excuse anyway :lol: )
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/candleholder.jpg

Anne E.B. :wink:

[David E]

Thanks Anne.

Definitely Chance and the candleholders are fairly uncommon but  Ido see them from time to time. I've seen them in a few patterns as well; Swirl, Calypto, Filigree? While the flower patterns are not so desirable, the complete set will always do better, of course.

Nice photos so no excuses required! I'll use this with your permission.

Anyone know what the flower is? :oops:

[chopin-liszt]

:D:D
That's Chance, Anne! "Clematis", I believe, is the flower depicted.

I've got this , boxed, with original gold elastic, and labelled, the script on the label is the later angular type.

I've got a Calypto candlestick, I'd forgotten about it!

I'm trying to take some pictures, but the camera and the computer are refusing to acknowedge each other. :cry::cry::cry:

(Yes, the batteries are working, yes, the camera is plugged in to the computer - although it wasn't to start off with :oops: !)

[Bernard C]

Thanks, David, for your speedy reply.

I still have not managed to obtain a single Chance item with one of the Design Centre labels, believe it or not!

I am not at all surprised.   Despite the fact that this boxed set has been stored away unused until recently, only three of the Design Centre labels are still in situ on the glasses.   The other three had fallen off and dropped to the bottom of the box.   The adhesive on the Design Centre labels was just not designed to last a third of a century.

It is, therefore, important for me to record this photographically now, so that your website can provide the information as to how the original labels were positioned on the glasses.   ... and do not concern yourself that I would consider glueing the three loose examples back on again.   The importance of this set lies in its pristine, unmodified and original condition.

... Chance certainly had the commercial capacity to create the blanks as they were producers of laboratory and industrial glass.

They may have had the capacity, but I doubt whether, on a purely commercial basis, manufacture of these glasses could have been cost-justified.    Large-scale barware manufacturers must have been able to supply Chance at a fraction of Chance's real manufacturing costs.    However, as we all know, commercial logic often never gets anywhere near the decision-making process, although Chance seems to have been rather more commercially-minded than many of our favourite glassworks.

Bernard C.  

[David E]

:D:D
That's Chance, Anne! "Clematis", I believe, is the flower depicted.

I've got this , boxed, with original gold elastic, and labelled, the script on the label is the later angular type.

I've got a Calypto candlestick, I'd forgotten about it!

I'm trying to take some pictures, but the camera and the computer are refusing to acknowedge each other. :cry::cry::cry:

(Yes, the batteries are working, yes, the camera is plugged in to the computer - although it wasn't to start off with :oops: !)

Now, I was going to suggest Clematis but knew I'd be wrong! Thanks for that.

Sometimes you need to have the camera on while plugging into the computer, although some camera manufacturers say switch on afterwards - my Fuji and Nikon are both different. Or you may need to switch the camera to 'preview' mode first? Dunno, but try a few things.

Not to worry, we've got the rest of my life to complete this web site! :twisted: [/i]

[Lustrousstone]

See the extract from www.designcouncil.org.uk. It may help with dating your Design Centre labels
New name, new focus
Sir Paul Reilly (from 1959) brought an increasing emphasis on technology and later engineering design to the organisation's work, triggering a name change in the early 1970s to Design Council. Keith Grant (from 1977) maintained the organisation's high public profile and campaigned to increase visual literacy and design awareness in schools.

But by the 1980s Britain was increasingly design conscious, with high street spending boosting design investment, consumers and retailers seemingly convinced about the merits of good design and industrial designers now part of a growing and increasingly visible design industry.

Ivor Owen (from 1988) switched from public campaigning to focusing on business and education. Design Council retailing and product endorsement were closed and industrial services were regionalised.

[Bernard C]

Christine — Lovely piece of detective work.    I thought "Design Centre" sounded odd, but I couldn't think why.

Grateful thanks.

Bernard C.  

[Lustrousstone]

The Design Centre was the public face of the Design Council. There was a shop in London (Tottenham Court Rd, though I might be wrong about that) where you could buy stuff with the stickers and look at little exhibitions. Maybe there were other shops. I can remembering popping in 1982/3 on my way back to the office in North London after I'd been to a press conference 'nearby'. It's amazing how long it took to get back sometimes!!

[David E]

Thanks, David, for your speedy reply.

I still have not managed to obtain a single Chance item with one of the Design Centre labels, believe it or not!

I am not at all surprised.   Despite the fact that this boxed set has been stored away unused until recently, only three of the Design Centre labels are still in situ on the glasses.   The other three had fallen off and dropped to the bottom of the box.   The adhesive on the Design Centre labels was just not designed to last a third of a century.

Just got back: Interesting thought, but I suppose reaffixing the label would constitute a 'renovation'?  :?  

It is, therefore, important for me to record this photographically now, so that your website can provide the information as to how the original labels were positioned on the glasses...

Many thanks, Bernard. I look forward to seeing them.

... Chance certainly had the commercial capacity to create the blanks as they were producers of laboratory and industrial glass.

They may have had the capacity, but I doubt whether, on a purely commercial basis, manufacture of these glasses could have been cost-justified.    Large-scale barware manufacturers must have been able to supply Chance at a fraction of Chance's real manufacturing costs.

Chance did have the financial clout of Pilkingtons behind them, so I wonder if the parent company got involved? Otherwise, I wonder if someone like Ravenhead got involved?

Hopefully the Heritage Centre will have vast amounts of factory records... :roll: