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MODELES ET TAILLES DE CRISTAUX ANGLAIS

Design
1824 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

These designs are for eight wine glasses and two tumblers in cut-glass. The designs are from a rare pattern book for glass table-ware, candelabra, chandeliers, and metal-mounted pendant lamps, of about 1824. The pattern book is bound in a contemporary leather binding tooled with the letters 'MODELES ET TAILLES DE CRISTAUX ANGLAIS' or models and patterns of English crystal. This suggests that it was compiled as a pattern book for a French retailer of English glass.

John Blades, the London glass manufacturer and merchant, has been suggested as a possible source for these designs. However, many other London firms produced this type of glass, and some Birmingham manufacturers also made similar glass. It is impossible to identify with certainty which firm made the designs.

What is certain, however, is that at this period, about 1820-1830, the English style of cut glass was much admired in France. It is recorded that English cutters went over to France to demonstrate their technique. Perhaps an English cutter took these patterns with him to France where they were bound. This pattern book is a rare document of the trade in English luxury glass products.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMODELES ET TAILLES DE CRISTAUX ANGLAIS (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Engraving on paper bound in an album
Brief description
Design from a pattern-book of designs for English crystal glass, about 1824
Physical description
Designs for eight wine glasses and two tumblers in cut-glass.
Dimensions
  • Height: 11.8cm
  • Width: 20.8cm
Credit line
Supported by the Friends of the V&A
Historical context
At this period, about 1820-1830, the English style of cut glass was much admired in France, and it is recorded that English cutters went over to France to teach the French how to do it. Perhaps an English cutter took these patterns with him to France where they were bound.
Production
Alex Warner (Deputy Head, Later Department, Museum of London) said that the glass manufacturer 'might well be John Blades. However, you need to be careful as there were a number of other considerable manufacturers as well as glass retailers in London at this period. The book might even not relate to London - another strong possibility might be a Birmingham provenance - one of the glass showrooms in the town or a manufacturer such as Harris, Gammon & Co of the Belmont Glass Works.

Here are a few possibles for London
Thomas Bailey - 8 St. Paul's Churchyard (known for china, earthenware and glass - big exporters)
William Collins - 227 Strand
James Davenport - 82 Fleet Street
Green & Co - 35-6 Upper Thames Street
Green & Pellatt - Falcon Glass House
John Illidge -50 High Street, Borough
Humphrey Levi - cut glass and lustre maker
Philip Jacobs - Crown Street Finsbury Square
Thomas Simmons 17 Brownlow St, Holborn - known for chandeliers
Titus Lawler - 19 Haymarket'

Roger Dodsworth, Keeper of Glass, Broadfield House Glass Museum, stated that possible firms from the Stourbridge area in the West Midlands that might have produced these patterns for glass include Hawkes and Richardson. There are Birmingham firms like Osler which might also have produced the patterns.
Subjects depicted
Summary
These designs are for eight wine glasses and two tumblers in cut-glass. The designs are from a rare pattern book for glass table-ware, candelabra, chandeliers, and metal-mounted pendant lamps, of about 1824. The pattern book is bound in a contemporary leather binding tooled with the letters 'MODELES ET TAILLES DE CRISTAUX ANGLAIS' or models and patterns of English crystal. This suggests that it was compiled as a pattern book for a French retailer of English glass.

John Blades, the London glass manufacturer and merchant, has been suggested as a possible source for these designs. However, many other London firms produced this type of glass, and some Birmingham manufacturers also made similar glass. It is impossible to identify with certainty which firm made the designs.

What is certain, however, is that at this period, about 1820-1830, the English style of cut glass was much admired in France. It is recorded that English cutters went over to France to demonstrate their technique. Perhaps an English cutter took these patterns with him to France where they were bound. This pattern book is a rare document of the trade in English luxury glass products.
Bibliographic reference
Smith, John. Modeled [sic] et Tailes [sic] de Cristaux Anglais. The Glass Circle Journal vol. 11, 2009 pp.77-90, ill.81 'Page 8'
Collection
Accession number
E.761:26-2008

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Record createdSeptember 29, 2008
Record URL
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