Topic: Rowland Ward Nairobi East Africa Big Game Etched Crystal Glasses

[Heather23]

Hello GMB
I am looking for a wine glass (or several) to replace breakages in my set.
There was a conversation here about the Rowland Ward East Africa design many years ago.
Does anyone have up-to-date information?
Many thanks.

[Laird]

These glasses were engraved and sold at the Karen Blixen Estate/farm in Nairobi. The glassware itself, was imported from France and it was engraved in Nairobi. I regularly bought sets of wineglasses there to bring as gifts when on visits to the UK. Almost everything I bought I gave as gifts, though I do have an engraved beer mug presented to me. I'm sorry, I don't remember the name of the French glassmaker. But, definitely, engraving was done at the Blixen farm in Nairobi - I sometimes watched them doing it.  There was a showroom, and the range included wineglasses engraved with wildlife, lions, buffalo etc, vases and bowls.

[Heather23]

Thanks so much for your comments, Laird. How extraordinary that you saw them being engraved at the Blixen estate!
The engraving is extremely fine, so they must have had some impressive equipment at the farm.
I have stickers on the pieces which say ‘Real Crystal, Hand Cut, Western Germany’.
Do you have dates when you were in Nairobi?
I was born in Nairobi in 1950, and grew up in EA. My father bought a full set of decanter, jug, punch bowl, cocktail/brandy/wine/tumbler glasses, which I’ve inherited.
It is absolutely beautiful crystal, but easily broken so it’s difficult to track down replacements.
I’d love any more information about it.

[Laird]

I have looked at my beer mug, and the on the bottom it's marked ARC, the glassmaker's mark. I'm sure somebody here will be able to identify where it has come from.

[glassobsessed]

Sounds like they bought blanks from more than one supplier, no surprise if they have been selling them over a timespan of decades. I also had a couple of their wine glasses that were marked West Germany (which dates the manufacture of the blanks to before German reunification in 1990).

John

[Lustrousstone]

ARC is French; it was  Verrerie-Cristallerie d'Arques

[Laird]

This is a whisky glass that I have, also ARC

[Heather23]

When I have figured out how to reduce my photos, I'll post them to show my RW crystal. 

The etching style is quite different, and the crystal glass is quite thin.

My pieces all have tiny gold stickers, saying 'Real Crystal, Hand Made, West Germany'.

I'll be back soon.

[Anne]

Adding Heather's images for her (in batches of 4)

[Anne]

Second lot