Not currently on display at the V&A

Greyhound

Paperweight
1874 (design registered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Sculptural paperweights were typical novelty items. Cheaply made, in pressed glass, they were widely available.

Materials & Making
The technique of press-moulding glass with the aid of a hand-operated machine was first perfected in the United States of America in the early 1820s. It took only two people to shape a measured quantity of hot glass in a heated metal mould. By simply depressing a lever, a metal plunger was lowered into the glass, forcing it into the patterned mould. By the 1830s this method had spread to Europe and Britain, giving rise to stylistic changes and revolutionising the availability of glassware. The technique made the mid- to late 19th century the first period of true mass production. In the 1890s the introduction of steam-powered presses improved quality while cutting costs even further.

People
After a joint venture with his two brothers, John Derbyshire established his own factory for pressed glass in Manchester in 1873. Under the name of John Derbyshire & Co., the Regent Road Flint Glass Works, it operated for only four years.

Design
John Derbyshire registered the design of this paperweight in 1874.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleGreyhound (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Press-moulded glass
Brief description
Glass Paperweight, England (Manchester), made by John Derbyshire, Regent Road Flint Glass Works, 1874-1900, C.135-1983 .
Dimensions
  • Height: 11cm
  • Width: 11cm
  • Depth: 20cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 01/02/2000 by JC
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Diamond registration mark for 11/9/1874 (Diamond registration mark)
Credit line
Gift of M. J Franklin
Object history
Made by John Derbyshire & Co., Manchester
Summary
Object Type
Sculptural paperweights were typical novelty items. Cheaply made, in pressed glass, they were widely available.

Materials & Making
The technique of press-moulding glass with the aid of a hand-operated machine was first perfected in the United States of America in the early 1820s. It took only two people to shape a measured quantity of hot glass in a heated metal mould. By simply depressing a lever, a metal plunger was lowered into the glass, forcing it into the patterned mould. By the 1830s this method had spread to Europe and Britain, giving rise to stylistic changes and revolutionising the availability of glassware. The technique made the mid- to late 19th century the first period of true mass production. In the 1890s the introduction of steam-powered presses improved quality while cutting costs even further.

People
After a joint venture with his two brothers, John Derbyshire established his own factory for pressed glass in Manchester in 1873. Under the name of John Derbyshire & Co., the Regent Road Flint Glass Works, it operated for only four years.

Design
John Derbyshire registered the design of this paperweight in 1874.
Bibliographic reference
Thompson (1989;41) called a jar cover as well, according to Lattimore (1979;p.94) the greyhound is based on work by Landseer.
Collection
Accession number
C.135-1983

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Record createdDecember 13, 1997
Record URL
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