Topic: Graham Sutherland Vase

[ipdglasspolishing]

Just thought you may like to see my very rare vase. 

[ipdglasspolishing]

Sorry, forgot to write the description. The vase was designed for the Harrods exhibition 1934. an experiment aimed at improving British industrial design conceived as a result of the Gorell report . 

[Paul S.]

very interesting - nice piece and a very angular deco look - I'm very green           I see there is a drawing of this vase in Hajdamach's '20th Century Glass' (page 165) - athough there doesn't appear to be any mention of this in Benson & Hayhurst's 'Art Deco to Post Modernism'.  Believe I'm correct in saying this was produced during the time Sutherland was with Stuart, although don't know if there was an official name for the design.           I assume the decoration is wheel engraved - and can you tell us the height please.                Is there a Stuart backstamp - or is the base frosted - and does it carry Sutherland's name?

Great piece, hope it didn't cost too much.

[ipdglasspolishing]

Hi, yes it has the Stuart mark, then opposite it is acid marked DESIGNED BY GRAHAM SUTHERLAND.

lots of wear to the base.

The decoration is wheel engraved.

I only found 2 references to this vase. Here http://www.glassfairs.co.uk/Articles/rise20thC.html

and during my search I found another site that I though I had saved but??

That site said that it had been designed for the Harrods Exhibition 1934.

I can't remember how tall it is, I will get it out tomorrow and measure it.

[Paul S.]

thanks Ian.
I'd overlooked Dodsworth's exhibition catalogue - and I'd certainly agree with Nigel when he suggests that this remains one of the most informative and useful sources regarding innovative and progressive designed glass from the 1920's and '30's.              Dodsworth includes several pieces designed by Sutherland - although not a picture of your vase, I don't think.

That's not to say that design imagination ceased after the second war - there's some really great pieces from Luxton, Hammond and Irene Stevens etc. from the 1950's and '60's, but the output of such designers is as nothing compared to the shed loads of mundane and boring cut glass that was produced in the same period  -  perhaps it's these very ordinary pieces that people think of when they hear the words cut glass, and maybe it puts them off the subject.
Clear, cut glass, seems always to remain underrated, whatever the design - which is good for those who collect, but doesn't lift values in the same way that colourful studio material has risen.        Having said that I hear that W/Fs doesn't now command the same prices it was achieving ten years ago.
It might be a lesson to us all that the most fashionable wares are those to be most cautious of......they rise, but then equally they can dip
So, best to stick to cut glass if you're in for the long haul

Sorry for rambling  -  and look forward to hearing of the height of your vase.

[ipdglasspolishing]

The height is 15 cm, diameter at rim 17 cm and the weight 900 g, 

[nigel benson]

  - athough there doesn't appear to be any mention of this in Benson & Hayhurst's 'Art Deco to Post Modernism'.

SEE: last paragraph of the Introduction on page 3, and again paragraph 4 under Stuart & Sons on page 8 of  'Art Deco to Post Modernism'   

We decided not to include the already well known Keith Murray, Clyne Farquharson and the Harrods Exhibition, in favour of concentrating on those less known and unknown protagonists of the art of British cut glass design. This was the drive behingd the exhibition and the accompanying catalogue 

Nigel

[Paul S.]

thanks for the size Ian.

Nigel  -  apologies, my comment was a little wooly, and was meant to say that I couldn't see a picture of this particular vase - but thanks for pointing this out.

[ipdglasspolishing]

Thanks for the replies, however I am confused ,"don't take a lot ". I,m afraid I do not have that book.

Was it for the Harrods exhibition or not? Thanks for your patience.

[nigel benson]

Hi,

Yes, as you quite rightly said in your second post, this is a design that was used for the Harrods exhibition.

Cheers, Nigel