Topic: Vintage Stuart Crystal

[Montybutton]

Please can anyone help me identify the pattern of some vintage Stuart Crystal glasses, as I am keen to replace some that have accidently been broken?

I have attached two photos for reference. The glass is part of a set of six tumblers plus an elegant water pitcher/jug. They all bear the Stuart Crystal stamp on the base (see photo) and one of the remaining glasses and the jug carry the Ludwig Kny signature 'LKny'.

I have searched ebay and other search engines with no success, however if I knew the name of the pattern/design it would help.

They are such elegant glasses for water or beer and having been part of my family since the early 1900s I would dearly love to know more about them.
Thanks

[Anne]

Hello and welcome to the board. Your glasses look like the Woodchester pattern but the feathers seem slimmer than I usually see.  It would be worth a browse through this site to see if you can find a match: http://www.replacements.com/crystal/stu.htm - let us know how you get on. Good luck!

[Montybutton]

Many thanks for your prompt reply. I have been looking at Woodchester but had been deterred by the 'fern' design. I will keep persevering.

[Paul S.]

the problem with using glasses is precisely that  -  given enough time they do have mishaps - had these been mine don't think I would have wanted to risk their accidental demise.            As a purely personal opinion, I'm not so sure these are quite as old as may be thought, and I'm thinking that they're not yet quite officially antique.       It's just possible that a potentially more successful direction to source replacements might be to try those dealers that trade specifically in 1920s and 1930s studio glass, rather than the bog standard ebay or replacement locations.
I've a feeling that if you do find others they are not going to be cheap, especially if they include Kny's signature.

It's true that there is a noticeable difference between what we see usually as 'Woodchester', and the less ambitious looking fern that appears on this tumbler.      Always possible this set may have been some form of early prototype of Kny's efforts at what became his passion for ferny decoration.
If you do find replacements it might be an idea not to use them.         best of luck.

[Montybutton]

I am continuing to research my Stuart Crystal 'Wheat' glasses. Does anyone know how I can research the Harrods Exhibition in 1934 as it has been suggested to me that any pieces bearing Ludwig Kny's signature are likely to have been for this exhibition.

The V&A museum mention it but I have not been able to access the catalogue http://www.vam.ac.uk/archives/unit/ARC142104

I have also come across a lecture (No: 9) by Charles Hajdamach on his website titled 'Stuart Crystal and the Harrods Exhibition' - and his website directs people looking for identification to the GMB.
Any ideas are welcome, many thanks.

[Paul S.]

the GMB member most likely to have in depth knowledge of Kny and his designs for Stuart is Nigel Benson  -  perhaps he might see this and look in.

Most unfortunate that CH's lecture appears not easily available, but we are speaking here of specialist information rather than IKEA, so obviously more difficult to source these papers.

I think we have to be a little careful when describing this particular design - assume we are still speaking of what is generally known as Kny's fern design -  and as far as I'm aware the standard description of that one is 'Woodchester'.

The more I look at this particular piece the more it makes me think of Irene Stevens 'Wheat Ear' pattern - a design that was more upright, more narrow, and more like an ear of wheat  -  but of course the conundrum is that apparently the op's glass is marked with Kny's signature for Stuart - so very confusing.

If you're watching Nigel  - can you please spare a few moments to give an opinion - thanks.

[chopin-liszt]

Hi and welcome. 
I strongly suspect the member you need to talk to is Nigel Benson.
He isn't here every day, but he might find this thread now I've mentioned his name.
He curated the exhibition Art Deco to Post Modernisn, A legacy of British Art Deco Glass, in 2003, in conjunction with Jeanette Hayhurst and wrote the accompanying booklet, which I am lucky wnough to own, I was also lucky enough to get to see the exhibition.

[Paul S.]

not that it should affect our discussions on the Stuart aspect here, but apparently the Webb Corbett 'Wheat-ear' design attributed to Irene Stevens c. 1955, looks on the face of it to have had a very similar but earlier origin.

In the booklet to which Sue refers Nigel illustrates a comport and decanter which carry an upright stylized leaf motif very similar to 'Wheat-ear', for which the caption reads ".... probably designed by Herbert Webb, pat. No. 14837, marked Webb Corbett Made in England, c1935, 11.3/4 ins."[Mod: caption details for pat. number and spelling of company name corrected]

It does look very much like the later design from Irene Stevens  -  although there is some difference in how this motif appears depending on the item of glass being viewed - one or two of them looking more like Kny's 'Woodchester' - although all of W/Corbett pieces show a very upright 'fern/ear' -  rather than the curly ones associated with Kny.

[Montybutton]

Thank you all  so much  for taking the time to respond with such in depth information. I've looked at the W/Corbett design and can see similarities. If Nigel doesn't respond here I will try and email him via his website and let you know.

[nigelbenson]

Hello All,

Firstly, I think it is reasonable to point out that these glasses could have been  a design used at one of three exhibitions which happened from 1934 to 1936. "Modern Art for the Table" - Harrods, 1934; "Art in Industry" - Royal Academy, 1935; or, "Everyday Things" - RIBA, 1936. (Edit) - There were extra designs added to the later exhibitions, so it may not come from the Harrods one.

The best place to approach would be the Wedgwood Museum as they have the Stuart archive. If you send them clear images - profile, detail of pattern, base - and give them sizes, etc., they will look up the archive if you point out that they are marked with a facsimile signature which suggests any of those exhibitions. Give them plenty of time as they are (like all museums) short staffed and can't 'jump to it'.

The catalogue for the Art in Industry exhibition does not help at all as it is not illustrated and the descriptions are limited to what the item is, rather than the decoration.

I'm afraid, IMHO, it is very unlikely that you will find a replacement easily, in fact it could take years, or even never happen as no-one with a set will want to split it, and given their likely rarity, you may find one I'm afraid. Certainly I don't recall ever seeing this pattern before. That said you may have extreme luck and find one next week in a charity shop!!!

Oh, and I don't think this is Woodchester pattern, or a prototype, rather more it is a pattern that stands on its own as part of a theme that Ludwig Kny explored over time. Also I think it is a likely pattern to re-occur given that designers were looking to pare down the patterns used in the Victorian era, hence the apparent duplication(s) mentioned above.

Cheers, Nigel