Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: jal on September 27, 2010, 11:13:48 AM
-
I am trying to find any information about John Barrable, glassmaker, having searched the web, and only found one piece [1985], sold by Batemans auctioneers earlier this year, otherwise drawn a blank. I have just purchase one of his vases.
Look forward to any replies, J.
-
No photos? :cry:
John
-
It might be worth contacting Rufford Gallery, where the piece sold by Bateman's was bought in 1985. They may be able to tell you more about him. Do let us know what you find out please.
http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/home/leisure/arts/ruffordcraftcentre.htm
-
Hi, contacted Rufford Gallery, & Notts. County Council, but no joy. Picture encl. background is like polished mahogany, & difficult to show, believe it may be from late 70s to early eighties. J.
-
Hmmm that's strange - I suppose there's no-one around who remembers, and they either don't have or can't be bothered to look up their records of past exhibitions. Adam A might know though, he should be back from his current show at the weekend so we'll see then. Keep your fingers crossed. :X:
-
I assume it's signed? Can you show us a good clear closeup of the signature please? And some more shots of the vase against a plain white background would help too. Thanks. :)
-
Hi Anne, I dont think it's signed, although you could make the marks on base look like JB, with artistic licence.
Further pictures encl. Front--Close up --Base.
Best regards, J.
-
Whoops, it was meant to be:-
-
I met him in the eighties when he was a mature student who graduated from the late lamented International Glass Centre at Dudley. I don't know what happened to him though.
-
I have just contacted Richard Golding ref above. His edited comments are:-
John was an older student at the glass centre in Brierly Hill in about 1982, after running his own advertising business. Got bored after retiring, so set up a glass house in Cambridge, making unique pieces of copper & ruby glass. It was my fault he went down that direction, because I showed him how no two melts ever come out the same. That was it, he was hooked. John worked for about 3 years on some amazing pieces, & then had heart problems, & died during a bypass op. A sad day, we all lost a great artist that day. & I lost a friend. You have a very special piece.
Many thanks to all who replied to my message.
Regards., John.
With thanks to Richard Golding for the above information.
-
John, thank you for posting this, it solves a mystery and I'm sure Adam will be saddened to hear of his death. I'll move this over to British & Irish now we have a conclusion.
-
Only a couple of years out of time.....but I've just caught up with this request, having started to collect glass myself! John Barrable was my father and died in 1994 following a heart transplant. His studio, 'Barrable Glass' was based in Lincolnshire and he worked there during the 1980's. He did work with rubyglass/copper but his work was quite diverse, so not always recognisable as a 'Barrable'. We have a few pieces still in the family and his wife may know where to find more....but my best guess would be to keep looking in the Lincolnshire area...........how exciting that people are asking!
-
Welcome, Claire and thank-you so much for popping in to tell us!
We get very, very excited when family members of great glassmakers deign to speak to us. 8)
-
Hi Claire, & thanks for that update. Richard Golding did tell me John had a couple of daughters, but thought you lived
Portsmouth/Southampton area.
I still have, & love the vase shown in the picture, the colours are unlike any other glass I have seen.
It was nice to track down the maker, but sad to find of his demise.
Have a Happy New Year, John. [Sunny Horsham] but today only I think!!!!
-
Very sorry to hear about John, Claire. I only met him a couple of times, but he was very skilled and talented and a really nice person. All the best in your collecting, and a Happy New Year!
-
Oh yes - all the best for your collecting, Claire. :)
Please, do keep coming come back to share and discuss your finds with us.