Topic: LSA International - Polish glass

[Leni]

While shopping in my local branch of John Lewis yesterday I saw some fantastic pieces of glass!  On investigation I found they all had a label saying 'LSA'.  Also, some were identified as 'Made in Poland'.  

The quality varied, some being fairly ordinary, albeit very well made, while some items were really beautiful, the design and craftsmanship being absolutely stunning   :shock:

So I came home and Googled LSA, only to find they are an 'umbrella' organisation, who subcontract the glass factories in Poland!  

So my question is this ... How do I find out who made what?  None of the glass is signed or identified in any way other than the LSA label.  

Anyone know anything about this?

(BTW, I didn't buy anything yet, but fully intend to go back and shop, shop, shop!     )

Leni

p.s.
Yay!  

I Googled again and, via the Polish Chamber of Commerce, answered my own question!   :lol:

Go and look up Adam Jablonski.  

I have just dribbled all over my keyboard!   :shock:

[paradisetrader]

Hi Leni
I became aware of LSA only fairly recently.
I knew that Poland made some nice glassware ( we are talking useable glass here aren't we ?) as I had come across their website while looking for something else.
 
Later at a function at the Tate Modern eating designer chips from a very stylish tazza style bowl, I suddenly stopped and stared hard at it..... and thought ...that's Polish.... after the event I lingered and when few people were left I raised it and sure enough a label LSA.

Later again, clearing out a kitchen cupboard I thought - I don't need all these small bowls ....I started to sort them. One caught my attention ....very nicely made and finished ...and again found the label LSA. It compared very well with a Dartington bowl of similar size - if not more stylish ! and head and shoulders above others quality wise.

Perhaps they are a remnant of the old communist system whereby many factories were amalgamated into larger organisations. Perhaps subsequent privatization sold off the individual factories and left the parent as a central selling organization ? Just guesses.
I'm surprised that their quality varies so much.

[glasswizard]

Leni, so you discovered Jablonski Here is one of my favorite pcs. Please enjoy. Terry in Iowa

http://tinypic.com/1j9fyb

[chopin-liszt]

Hello Leni and Peter,
I've been looking at LSA too, but in the context of trying to find out about some glasses and a decanter I'd bought with Krosno labels on them. (beautiful heavy stuff I found in a couple of charity shops). In lesley Jackson's 20th Century Glass, p.11, it says:-
"LSA, which stands for Lubkowski Saunders and Associates, was established in Britain in 1973 by Janusz Lubkowski and Tony Saunders to import giftware from Poland. Since the mid-eighties it has specialised in glass, numbering Habitat, Selfridges and John Lewis among its chief costomers. The aim of the company has been to produce attractive modern domestic glassware at an affordable price. Early products included simple water sets designed and made at the Krosno  factory in Poland. Today, however, all the glass sold under the LSA name is designed by the company's own in-house team, and it now uses several Polish glassworks to manufacture its designs."   , Sue.

[Anne]

Leni, so you discovered Jablonski Here is one of my favorite pcs. Please enjoy. Terry in Iowa

http://tinypic.com/1j9fyb

Terry this is beautiful, thanks for sharing it with us.

[Anonymous]

Leni, so you discovered Jablonski Here is one of my favorite pcs. Please enjoy. Terry in Iowa

http://tinypic.com/1j9fyb

Hi Terry

Good to see someone else has discovered these fantastic pieces. I am very fortunate that within a couple of miles from me are 2 glassshops that deal only in Polish glass....if not I doubt I would have come across them. Since last summer I have bought 6 , the last one just an hour ago, but the proprietor advises that she does not think that Jablonski will be making any more within this style......I did ask if I could have his number so I could remonstrate and let him know how popular I feel these will become ( and desrevedly so too ). Its also a pity that he is not better represented on the web . Anyway...superb pieces.

Regareds

Gareth

Morgan48

[paradisetrader]

I'm confused !!!
So we art talking Art Glass as well as glassware.
Ok But
Leni what is Adam Jablonski's relationship to LSA ?
Is his work Identified as his ?
The label on Terry's piece doesn't look at all like the LSA label on my bowl (not art glass). What does it say Terry ?

Sue, How does Krosno tie in with LSA ?
I have a Krosno whiskey bought from Habitat in about 1985. It had a Krosno label on it. I'd dearly love to get my hands on another to replace the one which broke.

Gareth - Where are these Polish glass shops ? I promise I won't buy any  Jablonski !!!

[chopin-liszt]

Hi Peter, I'm afraid I don't know any more than what was written in 20th Century Factory Glass, as quoted above in my last posting, about how Krosno and LSA are associated. I don't know if my decanter is anything like your whisky one, and I'm afraid I can't yet work the digital camera on the computer (severe technophobia and camera phobia - I can't say photophobia, as that is fear of light!) to post a picture. The decanter I have has an incredibly thick base - about 2 inches deep and it is sort of lobed, almost like a rounded deep sea oil drill bit in overall shape. The stopper is T-shaped, the grip about 2/3 inches deep.
I'm going to have to learn how to use the camera, post pictures and links, as I don't feel I'm joining in properly here yet! You'll all just have to bear with me on that one  :oops: Cheers, Sue

[Leni]

So we art talking Art Glass as well as glassware.
Leni what is Adam Jablonski's relationship to LSA ?

I Googled 'LSA' and 'Polish glass' and got the Polish Chamber of Commerce site (amongst others), which led me to a link to the Jablonski Crystal factory, which I assume is one of the factories LSA uses.  

It also led me Adam Jablonski's art glass, which had me drooling all over the keyboard!  :shock:

Presumably, Jablonski signs his art glass pieces, but his factory produces the more 'general' - but IMHO also very beautiful - glassware on sale in John Lewis!

Gareth - Where are these Polish glass shops ? I promise I won't buy any  Jablonski !!!

I won't promise any such thing!!!   Go on Gareth, where are they? Where?   :twisted:

Leni

[Anonymous]

Leni/Peter

I meant to also say that when I spoke to the proprietor, Polish lady who often returns to Poland on glass buying trips, she had not heard of LSA....but which I realise doesn't mean anything !!

Regards

Gareth

Morgan48