Glass Newsletter August 2009 from Angela

Hi,
Here is my August Glass Newsletter - thank you for your patience last month when we had technical problems. Hopefully I will never again receive ten thousand emails each telling me another person had resigned from our list! Fortunately, when all the problems had been resolved, we ended up with almost all of our original ten thousand members plus over a hundred new ones (a result of all the publicity?). Thank you for your loyalty and support.

In this newsletter I want to tell you about a brilliant Hungarian glassworker called Istvan Komaromy, whose work is often confused with Bimini glass. There's a story from my recent visit to Nazeing glass which I know will surprise and amuse you; and some information about the German company Walther & Sohne. There's also information about forthcoming glass conventions, shows, and other events; some recently published books on glass that you might have missed; some glass from my collection which is now for sale; and our own glass publications. I do hope you find something here to enjoy.

Istvan Komaromy
What do you know about Istvan Komaromy? Until this year, most of us had never heard of him. For the past five years there was a thread on the Glass Message Board (www.glassmessages.com) in which people tried to identify the maker of some beautiful goblets that were similar to but not the same as work by Bimini. They had elegant white ladies holding up the cup of the goblets, and a label that nobody could decipher until late last year. When we finally had the name, research began in earnest and Istvan Komaromy's daughter, Chris Burley, came forward to help us. So now we can tell you his amazing story. There is a short article on the Glass Encyclopedia at http://www.glassencyclopedia.com/Komaromyglass.html and a longer one is planned for the Glass Museum soon, followed by a book after that. Istvan Komaromy was the missing link - the artist who made so many of the pieces we used to think were Bimini. I'm sure you will find his story fascinating and his Olga Korbet figurine is just stunning (click here to see it).

Nazeing Glass
During my recent visit to the UK I went to the Nazeing Glassworks and met their Managing Director, Stephen Pollock-Hill. It was a great visit and I learned many fascinating things about the history of Nazeing Glass. Back around the turn of the 19th century the Kempton's (who later founded Nazeing Glass) owned a glassworks in Vauxhall. They were recruiting day labourers and a thin, weak-looking out-of-work actor took the job. He found the heat and the physical effort too much for him, and when he fainted he was thrown outside on the sand pit to recover. This was too much for him, and he never returned to the glassworks, not even to collect his half day's pay. The story is told in his autobiography, and it is probably a good thing that he didn't become a glassworker. His name - Charlie Chaplin!

You will find an article about Nazeing Glass that I have added to the Glass Encyclopedia at http://www.glassencyclopedia.com/Nazeingglass.html..

August Walther & Sohne
August Walther and Sons was a 19th century German glassworks based in Dresden, which merged with the Saxonian Glass company in 1932 to become "Sachsische Glasfabrik August Walther and Sohne AG". They were most famous for their art deco figurines and art glass vases and bowls, introduced from about 1932 and continued long after the war. In particular they made cloud glass which they called Oralit, and for many years their Oralit designs were assumed to have been made by Davidson's of the North East of England. The two versions of cloud glass are very similar, but distinguishable by the colours used and the shapes. After WW2 the company was nationalised and continued under the name "VEB Sachsenglas", making many of the same designs from the same molds. Exporting glass from East Germany to the West became increasingly difficult during the 1960s and the art deco molds from the 1930s became worn out and needed replacing. This was not a viable economic proposal, so after 1965 their art deco production and export ceased. The company survived until the unification of East and West Germany in 1990, but after that they could no longer compete and closed down (along with most other East German glassworks). It is often assumed that "Walther-Glas" in Bad Driburg which still produces pressed domestic and giftware, sometimes with the name "Mikasa", is the same company, but we have seen no proof of this.

There is a new article about August Walther's Glass on the Glass Encyclopedia at http://www.glassencyclopedia.com/Waltherglass.html..

Ideas to improve your website
Some time ago I started a website to help people with their own sites. Recently I updated it with some useful links I found that could help you improve your site - such things as an easy way to add your own FAQ; a text replacer to make it easy to update multiple pages; a search box that doesn't bring advertising in its wake, and others. Take a look in case there is anything you have been looking for http://www.webzite.com.

Glass for Sale

Whilst researching for my article on Walther's glass, I sorted out the pieces in my collection, and decided that I will offer a few of them for sale here. I need the space for the new things I keep buying, and I have enjoyed having these Walther's pieces so much - now it is somebody else's turn to enjoy them. In addition I've added some Scottish paperweights by John Deacons, by Caithness, Selkirk Glass, and Strathearn. There is also pearline glass by Davidson's. These pieces are from my own Glass Museum collection and are the actual pieces pictured on the Glass Museum and the Glass Encyclopedia. I have to start selling some of my glass to make room for all the new pieces I keep buying!

I have been working on a CD about Scottish Glass, and you will receive a copy of this CD with any of the Scottish items we are selling on eBay, as a gift from me.

I hope you find something here that you would like. If you want to see a quick overview, you'll find these auctions at http://www.myglassauction.com.

John Deacons - beautiful millefiori glass paperweight with facet cut windows around and on top. It is in perfect condition, - on eBay at #170371094925

Walther figurine - a rare Art Deco glass figurine of a lady with a parasol by August Walther and Sohne. Named "Marina" in the Walther's catalogues, this one is in green uranium glass, - on eBay at #170371413763.

Caithness Glass paperweight Limited Edition designed by Colin Terris - to commemorate a 40th Anniversary. It is in perfect condition and would make a lovely ruby wedding gift or a gift for a Caithness collector - on eBay at #170371364203.

Strathearn glass - a nice millefiori cartwheel design paperweight from the company that had previously been Vasart. It is in perfect condition, has a dark blue base cushion with four circles of millefiori canes interspersed with white and blue twists of glass to form a cartwheel effect - on eBay at #170371371402.

Royal Doulton - a really good quality cut crystal glass paperweight from Royal Doulton - now sadly in receivership (like so many others) - on eBay at #170371383877.

Selkirk glass - the company that Peter Holmes set up when he left Caithness Glass and before he set up his own studio. This beautiful contemporary paperweight is on ebay at #170371388616.

Davidson's pearline - vaseline uranium glass - a delightful little jug designed in 1896 and produced for a few years after that. Take at look at how it glows in ultra violet light - on ebay at #170371404815.

Wedgwood Glass - an amethyst purple candlestick designed by Ronald Stennett Willson in one of the rare shapes - on ebay at #170371409022.

Many of these auctions are put up without reserve and so far most of them do not have any bids. If you would like to see a quick summary with pictures, or keep in touch with the new items I am going to add, please go to http://www.myglassauction.com/

Searching for Rare items

I'm still searching for these rare Bagley Glass items that I have never seen "live". Do let me know if you come across any of them, please: The pictures of these items in our book on Bagley Glass, are from advertisements or catalogues or design drawings. I am not even sure if some of them were ever made. If you have any information please let me know. And don't forget about the recently updated CD about Bagley that now includes several original company catalogues including the rare coloured catalogue from the 1930s, the coloured Royal Visit Booklet and a series of coloured full page Bagley advertisements. I think its especially useful to Bagley collectors. Click here to read more about it.

Links

If the links don't work in your email copy of this newsletter, you'll find another version with all its links working here: http://www.glassnewsletter.com/090813news.html

And while we're on the subject of links, we have a great page of Glass Links at http://www.theglassmuseum.com/links.htm - hope you find them useful.


Designer Searches

There's a very useful list of Designer Searches of eBay to be found at http://www.glass-seek.com. I use it myself when I don't have much time and I want to make sure I'm not missing something! And if you prefer ebay.co.uk try thise links http://www.glassencyclopedia.com/newsearches/searchindex.html.

EXHIBITIONS, CONFERENCES AND GLASS SHOWS:

Blackwell the Arts and Crafts House in the Lake District, UK will hold an exhibition of contemporary glass by leading artists in the UK, called "Catching the Light" from November 13th 2009 to 3rd January 2010. Our own Adam Aaronson will be giving the introductory talk, so if you are lucky enough to get an invitation, make sure you go! Blackwell is the most beautiful country house and the view from the terrace is superb, quite apart from the exhibition. More information on their website - http://www.blackwell.org.uk/future-exhibitions-0. They currently have an exhibition of Whitefriars Glass too.

The British National Glass Collectors Fair will be held on November 15th 2009 at The National Motorcycle Museum near Birmingham, UK, just off junction 6 on the M42. Website: http://www.glassfairs.co.uk/.

New Zealand - Wanganui Festival of Glass from September 19th to October 4th 2009. A Highlight this year will be Josh Simpson's public lecture, demonstration and workshop, to be held between the 19th and 26th September. More details on their website at http://wanganuiglass.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1.

The Cambridge Glass Fair will be held on Sunday 27 September at Chilford Hall Vineyard, just south of Cambridge, UK between 10.30am and 4.00pm. More details on their website http://cambridgeglassfair.com/.

Events at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York are listed on their website at http://www.metmuseum.org/calendar/

The Netherlands - Internationale Glaskunstbeurs (Glass Art Fair) will be held in Leerdam, The Netherlands from the 11th to 13th Sept 2009. About half the exhibiton this year is dedicated to new glass artists, with a focus on the work of Richard Price. More information is on the Glass Fair website at http://www.glaskunstbeurs.nl. Look out for our friends Jay and Han with their stand on "20th century Dutch and Belgian factory glass".

Upcoming Events in Carnival Glass in the USA can be found on Dave Doty's website at: http://www.ddoty.com/events.html, and many thanks to Dave.

Depression Glass Shows in the USA click here- http://www.glassshow.com/Shows/ashows.html - a listing with dozens of depression glass shows across the USA - really useful.

Glass Bottle Collecting Shows in the USA click here- http://www.glswrk-auction.com/ShowCale.html - virtually every glass bottle collecting show in the USA.

Luxembourg: 3rd Internation Glass Festival will be held at the Atelier D'Art du Verre, Asselborn, Luxembourg, from August 28th to 30th 2009. Demonstrations and exhibition of glass by artists from 21 countries. For more details see their website http://www.art-glass-verre.com/pages/festival2009.html.

Jonathan Harris Studio "Open Day" Solo Exhibition, a one day event exclusive to members of the Jonathan Harris Collectors Club on the 6th September 2009 at Weston Park (stately home) Weston-Under-Lizard, England UK. Website with more details here - http://www.jhstudioglass.com/newsdetail.php?news_id=55&sitemap_id=15 .

Rye Festival Glass Talks, September 12th to 26th 2009. Andy McConnell (Antiques Roadshow) will hold a series of master clases in glass history at the Fish Cafe in Rye. Further information from http://www.decanterman.com/Engagements/Engagements.html.

The Broadfield House Glass Museum (near Birmingham, UK) At Broadfield House on the 29th August 2009 there will be an exhibition day of Glass Hand-casting with Allister Malcolm, where you are invited to make a glass momento of your own hand or foot cast in glass. From 12 noon to 4pm, the charge is £17 and this includes one hand or foot. You need to pre-book so here is the phone number: 01384 812745

And whilst you are at Broadfield House, take a look at the exhibition Petrol Heads which continues until the 1st of November. This exhibition features 17 petrol globes, a bubble car, motoring memorabilia and interactive activities for children. Open from 12 noon to 4pm and admission is free. You can check out events at Broadfield House here - http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/museum/WM000044.html or here - http://www.dudley.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums--galleries/glass-museum/whats-on/events.

Important Survey - the future of Broadfield House may depend on the results of a survey being conducted on line by the consultants appointed by Dudley Council to test the feasibility of the Council's plans for closing Broadfield House. You will find the survey here - http://online.dudley.gov.uk/about/surveys/glass_collection_feasibility_study.htm and if the on line process isn't working please print it out and post your answers to them. Broadfield House needs and deserves all the support we can give.


RECENT BOOKS ABOUT GLASS

- in case you missed them. Click on any of these titles to read more about the book.

20th Century British Glass by Charles Hajdamach. Available now for pre-order. 464 pages to be published by Antique Collectors' Club (November, 2009).

Voices of Contemporary Glass by Tina Oldknow. 382 pages, published by Hudson Hills Press (September, 2009).

Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass by Gene Florence and Cathy Florence , 256 pages, published by Collector Books (August, 2009).

Collectible Glassware from the 40s, 50s, and 60s by Gene and Cathy Florence. 256 pages, published by Collector Books (August, 2009).

Making Stained Glass Boxes by Michael Johnston. 153 pages, published by Stackpole Books (August 2009).

Grecian Border By A.H. Heisey & Co.: Greek Key by Petros Z. Mantarakis. 96 pages, published by CreateSpace (July, 2009).

The Stained Glass of A.W.N. Pugin by Stanley Shepherd. 420 pages, published by Spire Books Ltd (July, 2009).

Red Glass Coloration: A Scientific Study Focusing on Structure and Colorimetry by Torun Bring. 152 pages, published by VDM Verlag (July, 2009).

Identifying American Brilliant Cut Glass, 6th edition by Bill and Louise Boggess. 284 pages, published by Schiffer Publishing (June, 2009).

Outside the Ordinary: Contemporary Art in Glass, Wood, and Ceramics from the Wolf Collection by Amy Miller Dehan. 176 pages, published by Ohio University Press; 1st edition (June, 2009).

Mauzy's Depression Glass: A Photographic Reference with Prices; 6th Revised & Expanded edition by Barbara and Jim Mauzy. 272 pages, published by Schiffer Publishing (June, 2009).

The Penland Book of Glass: Master Classes in Flamework Techniques by Ray Hemachandra (Editor). 232 pages, published by Lark Books (January, 2009).

Early American Pattern Glass Cake Stands & Serving Pieces by Bettye S. James and Jane M. O'brien. 288 pages, published by Collector Books; 1st edition (January, 2009)

Books and CDs on glass by Angela Bowey This newsletter is funded entirely by Angela Bowey, so if you buy something listed here you will be helping with the costs. And many thanks for your support.

I do hope there was something interesting for you in this newsletter.
Very best wishes
Angela

Useful links:

The Glass Museum at http://www.theglassmuseum.com

The Glass Encyclopedia is at http://www.glassencyclopedia.com

The Glass Links Page is at http://www.theglassmuseum.com/links.htm

The Glass Message Board is at http://www.glassmessages.com

Glass Seek - Designer Glass Searches are at http://www.glass-seek.com

To join this list: http://lists.angelabowey.com/mailman/listinfo/glass_newsletter


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From: Angela Bowey

http://www.glassnewsletter.com - archive of my Glass Newsletters