Not currently on display at the V&A

Trial Piece

1980 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Diana Hobson (born 1943) trained at the Royal College of Art (MA, Metals, 1973-76) and taught at Camberwell School of Arts between 1979-87. She now lives in California. She has travelled, taught and exhibited widely and won awards for her work which features in the permanent collections of a number of museums internationally.

During the 1970s Diana became interested in reviving the almost forgotten technique of pâte-de-verre which had been developed in France by Henri Cros (1840-1907) at the end of the nineteenth century. She produced fine semi-translucent vessels of press-moulded crushed glass fired at 700°C. The Museum has several examples of her finished work. Her presentation to the V&A of her experimental pieces in 2003-04 has furnished the Collection with an invaluable technical context and insight into the artist's methods.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pâte-de-verre
Brief description
Trial piece, white pâte-de-verre convex leaf-shaped experimental piece with two raised ribs and coloured stripes, Diana Hobson, 1980
Physical description
White pâte-de-verre convex leaf-shaped experimental piece with two raised ribs and coloured stripes.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.7cm
  • Width: 7.2cm (maximum)
  • Depth: 2.5cm (approx.)
Credit line
Given by Diana Hobson
Production
One of three trial pieces made for the artist's original research into pâte-de-verre techniques which resulted in her 1981 thesis.
Summary
Diana Hobson (born 1943) trained at the Royal College of Art (MA, Metals, 1973-76) and taught at Camberwell School of Arts between 1979-87. She now lives in California. She has travelled, taught and exhibited widely and won awards for her work which features in the permanent collections of a number of museums internationally.

During the 1970s Diana became interested in reviving the almost forgotten technique of pâte-de-verre which had been developed in France by Henri Cros (1840-1907) at the end of the nineteenth century. She produced fine semi-translucent vessels of press-moulded crushed glass fired at 700°C. The Museum has several examples of her finished work. Her presentation to the V&A of her experimental pieces in 2003-04 has furnished the Collection with an invaluable technical context and insight into the artist's methods.
Bibliographic references
  • Diana Hobson, 'Pâte-de-verre: Research into the Techniques', unpublished thesis, 1981
  • Diana Hobson, 'Breaking the Mould', Crafts Magazine Sept/Oct 1983, no.64
Collection
Accession number
C.39-2013

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Record createdMarch 18, 2013
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