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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: flying free on July 11, 2021, 11:39:29 PM
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I never seem to find much information on this glassmaker but have just come across a few pieces. Not sure if they are on the board anywhere else but couldn't see them.
Firstly an important document dated 1 January 1841.
Re Glass-house of Rice Harris, Esq., Islington
source: Children's Employment Commission - Appendix to the Second Report of the Commissioners - Trades and Manufactures
Page 147
It gives long and detailed information from Rice Harris about the treatment of children and his staff at the glassworks.
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Appendix_to_the_Second_Report_of_the_Com/XJJHvZplE1YC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=rice+william+harris+islington+glass&pg=RA9-PA147&printsec=frontcover
and then:
1) Patents 17th May 1854 No 1094
Improvements to manufacture of articles in glass. Seems to be some sort of stand with a cone shape on it that opened out allowing hollowed out glass to be placed on it and then the stand stretches the glass to shape.
Not sure they ever pursued this patent to the end though.
The maker appears to at this point be called Rice Harris and Rice Williams Harris.
English Patents 1854
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/English_Patents_of_Inventions_Specificat/ppMj3pkjZjYC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=rice+williams+harris+glass&pg=PA29-IA108&printsec=frontcover
2) and here also which includes another patent , No 637, for glass shades:
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Alphabetical_Index_of_Patentees_and_Appl/2HQyAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=rice+williams+harris+glass&pg=PA53&printsec=frontcover
Plus what seems to be a detailed description of that actual patent here - given to Rice Williams Harris and Thomas Patstone - page 210. It involves a method of blowing then pressing the shade, and that there is a greater lead content in the glass:
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Newton_s_London_Journal_of_Arts_and_Scie/c65FAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=rice+williams+harris+glass&pg=PA210&printsec=frontcover
They paid a third year's stamp duty on this patent in March 1857 (see page 284 - Journal of the Society of the Arts March 20 1857)
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Journal_of_the_Society_of_Arts/PDA6AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=rice+williams+harris+glass+1857&pg=RA1-PA284&printsec=frontcover
3) From the Solicitors Journal page 955 November 7th 1857
Under a chapter marked Bankrupts but a sub section called Meetings so I'm reading it as not part of the Bankrupts section (but see point 5) )
'Harris, Rice and Rice Harris Williams, Glass and Alkali manufacturers, Birmingham Nov 26th at 11.30. Com Balguy Inv'
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Solicitors_Journal_Reporter/fQQ5AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=rice+harris+glass+1837&pg=PA955&printsec=frontcover
4) in 1849 at the Birmingham Exhibition, The Art Journal reported that Rice Harris showed a piece of Uranium glass as part of their productions. (link lost at mo but it was written definitely as though Rice Harris and Bacchus both showed uranium glass items as their own production.
5) This listing in the Spectator of 3rd Jan 1857 (see page 15) looks as though they were listed as Bankrupts Jan 16 and Feb 6 1857 ? but I found it quite difficult to work that out hence question.
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Spectator/HUA9AQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=rice+williams+harris+glass&pg=PA15&printsec=frontcover
6) I'm not sure about the bankruptcy but Libbey Glass hired W. Rice Harris in 1879 I think as an agent (I presume that is the same Rice Williams Harris) see page 35
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Edward_Drummond_Libbey_American_Glassmak/y41tpXZEGV4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=rice+williams+harris+libbey+glass&pg=PA35&printsec=frontcover
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January 1857 Rice, Harris were noted as a Mercantile Suspension owing £22,000.
See page 185 and on page 270 a description of the failure.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=eRMkAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA184&lpg=RA1-PA184&dq=rice,+harris,+%26+co+birmingham&source=bl&ots=DFcObBUV1l&sig=ACfU3U1MjbXL_10MSmiJhlvRL5x21xMPQQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjju9CMp8v0AhWhnVwKHQ2mAf4Q6AF6BAgQEAM#v=onepage&q=rice%2C%20harris%2C%20%26%20co%20birmingham&f=false
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Going back to my point 4) in my first post re the Birmingham Exhibition
See page 307 of The Art Journal October 1849 where they have engraved examples of Rice Harris glass at the Exhibition - they said the glass was mostly pressed however they said they've engraved three pressed items and the others are blown glass I think.
https://archive.org/details/sim_art-journal-us_1849-10-01_11/page/306/mode/2up
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Art Journal engravings of glass exhibited at the Great Exhibition 1851 Rice, Harris:
Scroll down and See page 182 and 183 of attached link
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Art_Journal_Illustrated_Catalogue/f0EHIyNi3uAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=art+journal+illustrated+great+exhibition+george+bacchus&pg=PR7&printsec=frontcover