MODELES ET TAILLES DE CRISTAUX ANGLAIS
Design
1824 (made)
1824 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
These designs are for: top row: four jelly glasses; second row: five custard glasses; bottom row: four finger bowls in cut-glass. Custard glasses were dessert glasses for serving an individual portion of custard, sometimes set on a stem and may have a single handle as in these designs.
The designs are from a rare pattern book for glass table-ware and light fittings 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 teach 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.
The designs are from a rare pattern book for glass table-ware and light fittings 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 teach 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 | |
Title | MODELES 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 four jelly glasses and five custard glasses, with handles, and four finger bowls in cut-glass. |
Dimensions |
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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: top row: four jelly glasses; second row: five custard glasses; bottom row: four finger bowls in cut-glass. Custard glasses were dessert glasses for serving an individual portion of custard, sometimes set on a stem and may have a single handle as in these designs. The designs are from a rare pattern book for glass table-ware and light fittings 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 teach 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.82 'Page 9' |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.761:28-2008 |
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Record created | September 29, 2008 |
Record URL |
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