Lion after Landseer thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Lion after Landseer

Paperweight
07/1874 (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.



Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleLion after Landseer (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Press-moulded, acid-etched glass
Brief description
Lion paperweight, England (Manchester), made by John Derbyshire, Regent Road Flint Glass Works, 1874-1900
Dimensions
  • Height: 12cm
  • Width: 11cm
  • Depth: 20cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 01/02/2000 by JC
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
Diamond registration mark for 07/1874, anchor and a manufacturer's mark 'JD', all moulded (Diamond registration mark)
Gallery label
  • Sir Edwin Landseer's design for the lions at the base of Nelson's Column was the inspiration of this mould, and the intention may have been to commemorate Landseer who died in the year before its issue.
  • British Galleries: The manufacturer called this design 'Lion after Landseer for a Paperweight'. He based the design on the lions in Trafalgar Square, London, modelled by Sir Edwin Landseer (1802-1873). They had been put in place in the square in 1867.(27/03/2003)
Object history
Made by John Derbyshire & Co., Regent Glass Works, 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.

Bibliographic references
  • Thompson (1989;41)
  • B. Morris, Victorian Table Glass and Ornaments, London 1978; pl.134
Other number
0841 - Glass gallery number
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.357-1965

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Record createdDecember 13, 1997
Record URL
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