Topic: Info/ Conf please - Shona Spittel, "Kaleidoscope"

[TimelessGlass]

1. Signed Shona Spittle called Kaleidoscope. 1995
2 numbers etched 30/75, limited?
No sign of makers mark.

Could these possibly be by the same artist and for which glass Makers?
Thanking you in advance.

[Derek]

Hi Timelessglass

It's me again !    Shona Spittal was a long serving employee of Caithness glass.
As Shona Nicholson she joined Caithness as a trainee glassblower in 1985, rose
through the ranks to become training officer - a post previously held by Paul Ysart!

In 1992 she liaised with the designers in translating their designs into the step by
step procedures needed by the glassblowers to consistently create the design. She
married John Spittal who in 2002 was the Perth factory Manager. Shona stayed with
Caithness until the Perth factory closed in 2008.

Your weight Kaleidoscope is a mystery as it is not shown in the Charlton catalogue
for 1995 which is the Caithness bible. I cannot find any reference to Kaleidoscope
in 1995 anywhere. It was a popular name for a design there being three catalogued
versions through the years.  There is a Shona Spittal design from 1996 which is
similar to your Kaleidoscope with the bolden bubble and what I am wondering is
if the Kaleideoscope weight was held back and re-released in 1996 in this slightly
modified form as hall of mirrors.   

I know Allan Scott who was the chief lampworker for many years and have asked
him if he can shed any light.

Derek

[TimelessGlass]

Derek,
You can furnish me with all the details you wish. It's fascinating.

Your facts are indeed interesting. Glad it's challenging you and look forward to your response.

Thankyou so much.

[Derek]

Hi TimelessGlass

I have heard back from Allan Scott - its a complicated
story but in essence all the designers at Caithness were
allowed to submit two pieces to something called the
Scottish Glass Society exhibition which was held annually
to showcase the talent of all the glassmakers in Scotland
not just Caithness Glass.

It seem that Shona made Kaleidoscope for the 1995
exhibition  and the design was "adapted" by Caithness
and released the following year as "Hall of Mirrors".
Allan says this was a common practice but at least
they had the courtesy to show Shona as the designer.

Amazingly Allan still has the catalogue for the 1995
Glass exhibition and as you can see the 4th entry in
the 6th showcase is your weight.   He also has a
picture of the "Hall of Mirrors weight that yours
became in 1996. I've also posted this.

Hope this all helps

Derek

[TimelessGlass]

Hi Derek,


What a result for us all. I am so grateful you have taken the time & trouble to enquire.
To clarify - does this mean our "Kaleidoscope" 1995 was a one off? 
And is the numbered one - "Hall of Mirrors" 1996?


Thankyou for all this excellent information, which we will dutifully study & absorb.

I hope I am not taking liberties by posting weights from our "acquisition" .
We really are trying to meticulously work through each & every one to identify. You are being most helpful, Thankyou.
Regards Sharron.

[Lustrousstone]

I would say your Kaleidoscope is THE Kaleidoscope by Shona. It wouldn't have been her personal property, so it would have been sold at some point. Possibly when Caithness closed down in Perth and every sample and special was sold off

[TimelessGlass]

I would say your Kaleidoscope is THE Kaleidoscope by Shona. It wouldn't have been her personal property, so it would have been sold at some point. Possibly when Caithness closed down in Perth and every sample and special was sold off

More helpful information .......Thankyou L.S.

[Derek]

Hi Christine

I need to correct part of the post you made ...........

" I would say your Kaleidoscope is THE Kaleidoscope by Shona. It wouldn't have been her personal property, so it would have been sold at some point. Possibly when Caithness closed down in Perth and every sample and special was sold off"

I have in the past purchased several weights that came from the SGS exhibition and had been made in the Caithness factory but they certainly were not purchased through Caithness Glass. I queried this with Allan Scott who was the chief lampworker at Caithness Glass and who exhibited many weights at the SGS exhibition mainly made with Harry McKay.

He stated..............

    "Caithness were kind enough to allow their workers to enter pieces, and sell them for their own benefit. The only 
     stipulation was that all work had to be done in our own time."

I hope this clarifies the point

Derek

[chopin-liszt]

  I attended the 1995 SGS Exhibition, held in the Strathearn Gallery in Crieff.
Weights and the other exhibits were all for sale at the exhibition itself and went through the gallery owners. They could also be bought by contacting the gallery if somebody had been unable to attend, but had seen images. There was a bit of trouble in that somebody did buy an Allan Scott weight, but it got accidentally sent to the wrong address and there was a great deal of hassle and trouble in persuading the person who had got hold of it to let it go.
I have photographs I took at the show, including some by Allan Scott.
There was another big disaster at that Exhibition too. A shelf in the window came down, badly injuring Owen Maguire and the exhibits broken. All in all a very eventful one.
I'll see what I can sort out for showing. Pics of 3 Allan Scotts
Amenthyst Blue and Neptune are shown here.

[chopin-liszt]

And here is Tropical Rainforest, also Allan Scott.