Not currently on display at the V&A

Dish

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, circular shallow pâte-de-verre dish with charcoal and crimson concentric rings, made by Diana Hobson, 1980
Physical description
Circular shallow pâte-de-verre dish with charcoal and crimson concentric rings.
Dimensions
  • Height: 1.5cm
  • Diameter: 8.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Mould 23/ 6. 24% lead. Washed in nitric (enamels). Fired 800 quickly without care(?). 10B FLAT', in ink (on label adhered to interior)
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.40-2013

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Record createdMarch 18, 2013
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