Glasses Set Four
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 Vintage Cordial Stemware Set of Four Etched Glass Design  US $17.99
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 SET OF FOUR MISCELLANEOUS HAND BLOWN GLASS HORSES US $40.00
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Whitefriars Glass – 17th Century History
The Whitefriars Glass company is one of the oldest glass companies in Britain from the 17th Century to the present day and is famous for its uniquely shaped glass. As a long established British glass designer and maker I thought readers may be interested in it's history.
The firm of James Powell and Sons, also known as Whitefriars Glass, were English glass-makers, lead lighters and stained glass window manufacturers. As Whitefriars Glass, the company existed from the 17th century, but became well known as a result of the 19th century Gothic Revival and the demand for stained glass windows.
In 1834 James Powell (1774-1840), a London wine merchant and entrepreneur, purchased the Whitefriars Glass Company, a small glass works off Fleet Street in London, believed to have been established in 1680. Powell and his sons were newcomers to glass making, but soon acquired the necessary expertise. They experimented and developed new techniques, devoting a large part of their production to the creating of church stained glass windows. The firm acquired a large number of patents for their new ideas and became world leaders in their field, business being boosted by the building of hundreds of new churches during the Victorian era. While Powell's manufactured stained glass windows, they also provided glass to other stained glass firms.
A major product of the factory was decorative quarry glass which was mass-produced by moulding and printing, rather than hand-cutting and painting. This product could be used in church windows as a cheap substitute for stained glass. It was often installed in new churches, to be later replaced by pictorial windows. Most of this quarry glass was clear, printed in black and detailed in bright yellow silver stain. Occasionally the quarries were produced in red, blue or pink glass, but these are rare. Surprisingly few entire windows of Powell quarries are to be seen in English churches, although they survive in little-seen locations such as vestries, ringing chambers and behind pipe organs. St Philip's Church, Sydney, retains a full set of Powell quarry windows. Powell also produced many windows in which pictorial mandorlas or roundels are set against a background of quarries. See picture right
During the latter part of the 1800s the firm formed a close association with leading architects and designers such as T. G. Jackson Edward Burne Jones, William De Morgan and James Doyle. Whitefriars produced the glass that Phillip Webb used in his designs for William Morris. The firm's production diversified in the 1850s to include domestic table glass after supplying the glassware for William Morris's Red House.
In 1875 Harry James Powell, grandson of the founder and an Oxford graduate in chemistry, joined the business. His training, which led to more scientific production and innovations such as previously unattainable colours and heat-resistant glass, for applications in science and industry, like X-Ray tubes and light bulbs.
New production lines such as opalescent glass proved to be extremely successful. The firm took part in major exhibitions around the world. Designs were copied from historical Venetian and Roman glass found in European museums and art galleries. Harry Powell, an admirer of Ruskin delivered numerous lectures on glass manufacture.
The firm's name was changed to Powell & Sons (Whitefriars) Ltd in 1919 and the growth in business demanded new premises. In 1923 the new factory was opened in Wealdstone despite a flourishing business, the great expense of the new factory scuttled plans to construct a village to house the workers in a style fashionable during the Arts and Crafts Movement. The furnaces were lit at the new factory using the flame from a furnace at the old works, which had been carefully carried across London in a brazier. The company also had showrooms on Wigmore Street, and this attracted customers for both domestic and window glass.
In the years between World War 1 and World War 11 business and the financial situation were much improved. Glassware trended to the colourful and heavy, and optic moulding and wheel engraving played a major part in bringing the Art Deco style to the middle and upper classes.
In the 1930s the firm started production of Milefiori paperweights, characterised by shallow domes and wide bases. This period of prosperity was ended with the onset of World War 11. Glass manufacture was restricted to that aiding the war effort. Cessation of hostilities found the company in a desperate struggle for survival, aggravated by the loss of key personnel who had enlisted and not returned.
The Festival of Britain of 1951 led to a much-needed financial infusion for the economy. Whitefriars was selected as an outstanding example of modern British industry. The following years saw austere and functional Scandinavian design sweeping Europe, and dominating stock purchases by major outlets such as Selfridge's and Fortran's & Mason.
The arrival of glass bricks which were cheap, thick slabs of coloured glass set in concrete bricks, dispensed with the need for expensive stained glass in new churches.
One of the many well-known glass designers who worked at Whitefriars was Geoffrey Baxter. He joined the factory in 1954 after graduating from the Royal College of Art. Baxter had a great influence on Whitefriars table and domestic glass designs. In the 1960s, he began to experiment with a new moulded glass. This led to the introduction of the Textured range in 1967. The pieces were made in moulds using tree bark, nails, wire and other materials to produce alternative textures to the glass.
In 1962 the company name was changed back to Whitefriars Glass Ltd. and specialised in freeform domestic glass ware until its purchase in 1981 by Caithness Glass.
Please visit my Funny Animal Art Prints Collection @ http://www.fabprints.com
My other website is called Directory of British Icons: http://fabprints.webs.com
The Chinese call Britain 'The Island of Hero's' which I think sums up what we British are all about. We British are inquisitive and competitive and are always looking over the horizon to the next adventure and discovery.
Copyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.
About the Author
I have recently decided to write articles on my favourite subjects: English Sports, English History, English Icons, English Discoveries and English Inventions. At present I have written over 100 articles which I call "An Englishman's Favourite Bits Of England" in various Volumes. Please visit my Blogs page http://Bloggs.Resourcez.Com where I have listed all my articles to date.
Copyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.
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Set of Four Castillian Highball Glasses $55 Shimmering with a bronze luster, our glasses have a distinctively artisanal cachet. Handblown with substantial weight and thickness. Hand wash. Set of Four Highball Glasses: each holds 12 oz. Set of Six Old-Fashioned Glasses: each holds 8 oz. |
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Part of a Set of Glasses: Water Glass (A Set of Four) $34.99 Koloman Moser Part of a Set of Glasses: Water Glass (A Set of Four) - Giclee Print |
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Personalized Wine Glasses - Set Of Four Stemmed Glasses $54.99 Printed with your name, these glasses toast to Melody, Mirth & Cheer. USA. Please state name. Shipped separately; allow 3-4 weeks. Set of Four 10.5 oz. each. |
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Personalized Wine Glasses - Set Of Four 17 Oz. Stemless Glasses $49.99 Printed with your name, these glasses toast to Melody, Mirth & Cheer. USA. Please state name. Shipped separately; allow 3-4 weeks. Set of Four 17 oz. each. |
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Personalized Pub Glasses - Set Of Four 20 Oz. Glasses $49.99 With a guarantee of singing, dancing, blarney, these pub glasses are custom-printed with your family name. Please state name. Shipped separately; allow approx. 2-4 weeks. (Cannot ship to APO or FPO addresses.) Set of Four 20 oz. |
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Four glasses of water $19.99 Four glasses of water - Photographic Print |
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Personalized Wine Glasses - Set Of Four 8 Oz. Wine Tumblers $44.99 Printed with your name, these glasses toast to Melody, Mirth & Cheer. USA. Please state name. Shipped separately; allow 3-4 weeks. Set of Four 8 oz. |
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Martini Glasses - Set of 4 $56.99 The Martini Stemware Glass set by Cathy?s Concepts is a wonderful addition to any home bar. These martini cocktail glasses are made of durable hand blown glass for longevity.Sold in a set of four, each martini glass has a standard coned top to hold the drink with a unique wavy stem. These martini barware glasses can be personalized by engraving your initial in single, uppercase script to add to its unique appeal. The personalization remains the same on all the four martini cocktail glasses. These martini glass set makes for a great gift for an anniversary, birthday or Valentine?s Day.*Please Note: Hand blown glass. Expect minor bubbles and swirls that are inherent to hand-blown glass.Engraving Options:The Martini Glass Set can be personalized with a single, uppercase script initial on each glass at No Additional Cost. Please enter all information in the space provided above. Personalization appears the same on all 4 glasses.Please allow up to 2-3 business days for personalized items to ship. Features: • Made of hand blown glass • Set includes 4 martini glasses • Standard coned top • Graceful wavy stem • Personalize with single, uppercase script initial • Personalization appears the same on all 4 glassesSize: 7 1/2"tall x 5"diameter Holds 12 ounces |
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Tumbler Glasses (Set of 4) $74.82 Raise a glass to a one-of-a-kind drinking glass set, featuring old-fashioned styling. This barware is a perfect fit and holds 14 ounces of your favorite beverage.Glasses can be personalized with a single initial (no additional cost) Ideal as a wedding present or a groomsmen gift Features a heavy base and simple styling Dishwasher-safe glassesSet of four Measures 3 inches wide x 4.25 inches tall Materials: Clear glass Please note: Hand-blown glass may contain small bubbles |
