Newsletter # 9 May '07
HELLO FELLOW GLASS ENTHUSIASTS !
So the time has come around again for a more general missive rather than the more
specific sales letters
However, will try to be brief ( my goodness, how that promise is wearing thin !).
Apologies in advance for lying!!
Mark Hill's book 'Michael Harris - Mdina Glass & I.of W.
Studio Glass'.
Still creating such a stir and rightly so. A finer epitaph to a great guy and man
of vision in his dedication to the development of British studio glass you could never wish to read.
I am sure you are all very aware of it but if not treat yourself to the
most definitive ( in fact the only) book on the subject charting a full history of the man and his work from his birth
(1933) and early years through to his untimely death in 1994. Comments and testimonials on the book abound
and all with a similar theme - 'Best value - worth far more than it's published price'.
Put it on your 'must have' list if you are even vaguely interested. With the effect
it seems to be having on values of both studios you will not regret it. Enough said !!
Info regarding 'happenings' at I.of W. Studio Glass
No, nothing 'spooky' (nothing ghostly anyway although the Island does have its
fair share of catalogued apparitions apparently).
Just a brief summary of plans to hold, what was one of the most successful
and enjoyable days for all our avids and ourselves, namely the Collectors Studio Open Day. As many of you will know the last
was on October 1st. last year and the request was for an annual event. (See Picture 1. below)
Well the truth is that apart from a feeling of 'how do you follow that? it
really is asking more than is physically possible due to the most critical factor and that is Tim Harris', and the whole team's,
commitment to running what is probably this country's most successful studio glass business.
Tim has been developing, and producing, in ever increasing volume his fabulous
cameo and Graal unique items. On most evenings you will find him back in the Studio carving until late in the evening to finish
some of his stunning new designs and this after a full day blowing, usually large and impressive special pieces of, hot glass.
No surprise there is not an ounce of surplus flesh on the man. (photo to prove it!) but he can still weald a blowing iron
like a whirling dervish !
So, the point of all the foregoing is to advise you that after a bit of discussion
we all came to the conclusion that every 18 months would be a far more comfortable time lapse to organise it all again. So
the ball park planned time is roughly next spring. ( Get your name down NOW ). Again we have planned to limited
it to around 50 of you to ensure adequate personal attention which I know everyone appreciated from last time.
Fairs and Exhibitions since last news letter
During late summer
last year one of the finest events for glass lovers was held, as it has been previously, The International Festival of Glass Biennale at Stourbridge
right in the heart of the most amazing and historic glass making area in the
country.
I am ashamed to say that we have
never been before and it is truly on an International scale in terms of breadth and range of studio glass making, albeit it
seemed from predominantly British glassmakers. However this is far from a disappointment as there was too much to take
in from traditional to modern covered by centres such as Broadfield House Glass Museum, The Red House Cone glass making centre
and last but not least The Ruskin Glass Making Centre. This is where our old friend and colleague Richard Golding had his
Okra Glass studio for a while, along side that other innovative glass maker who is making waves Iestyn Davies, and
we were going to meet Richard there as he was lecturing on his design of his own making for the most energy efficient
glass kiln yet devised. (See Picture 2. below) This is an important aspect for new, and existing,
glass studio's as many a budding talent has met their commercial demise through the sheer cost of fuel to make glass. More
of that some other time.
The scope of this event is mind
blowing. It lasts all week and covers all aspect of glass making with demonstrations non stop including one - making glass
eyes ! (Anyone for Bedouin soup, sheep's eyes and all !) The main hall has the most fabulous unique and
innovative items and ranges from current glass makers that I have ever seen and all for sale (Oh Lord, make me wealthy
before the next event !!)
If you only go to one event
in the next 10 years make it this one - trust me !
Go to www.ifg.org.uk to look up the programme of events which were held last year as it
is only held every two years ( hence Biennale). Don't miss it !
Talking Richard Golding and Okra Glass you
may like to look on our website to see two very early examples which have come into our possession. This is also backed
up by one of the more bizarre and strange designs from the studio but not of Richards designs by Sarah Cowan, who was
employed during Richards brief and not so happy time of ownership by the mighty Moorcroft ('97 - 2000) known as 'Conch' of
which we have acquired a small very rare collection. This will be shown this weekend - Sun.13th (n.b.
date now passed. See date for autumn fair on 'Fair Dates' page soon or on link below.) at the wonderful National
Glass Collectors Fair (a.k.a. Gaydon Glass Fair - Jn. 12 M40) at the Heritage
Motor Museum, Works. www.glassfairs.co.uk
One of only four specialist glass fair dates in
the calendar year (two here and two at The Cambridge Glass Fair) and a ' not to be missed' event. Hope
to see you there.
By the way you may also like to look up the site www.glassfairs.co.uk and go to the 'glass archive' tab and then to 'Michael Harris and the story of
Mdina' where you will find a piece which I wrote covering a brief history of events when Mike set up Mdina. But my brief
by David Hier who runs the website for his mother, the indubitable Pat, who runs the fair, was to give my view of
the collectability and comparisons if any between Mdina glass and Geoffrey Baxter's designs for Whitefriars. Read and enjoy.
Could be considered debatable by some and even downright inflammatory by others but I am entitled to my point of view.
Another heated debate anyone !!
(0)1384 399444. Fax. +44 (0)1384 399469 Festival of Glass, Ruskin Glass Centre,
' Now & Then'. Exhibition
of Sam Herman's work
(See image below.) Details:
The International Festival of Glass, Ruskin Glass Centre, Road,, Stourbridge, West nds United Kingdom. Go tom +44 (0)1384
399444. Fax. +44 (0)1384 399469 Details: The International Festival of Glass, Ruskin Glass Centre, Road,, Stourbridge, West
Midlands United Kingdom.
As this is a section on fairs and exhibitions I would be very
remiss if I also didn't mention something that is happening RIGHT NOW and until an extended 19th. June I have just
heard. That is an exhibition called Then and Now!. So what ?? I'll tell you 'So What' - it is an exhibition of work by one
of the Godfathers of world studio glass - no less than Sam Herman. Sam who ? Well, SHAME on YOU, SHAME on YOU !
It was Sam who was the instigator of the advent of studio glass making in Gt.Britain and the mentor of Michael Harris. Sam,
along with Dale Chihully and others who were students of Harvey Littleton of the States, who was teaching free flowing
ideas and techniques in studio glass making. Sam came to the R.C.A where Mike was a tutor in industrial glass making.
Picking up on Sams knowledge was how Michael became the first British radical freeformed studio glassmaker. Anyone
for a heated debate ??
So an exhibition on Sam's work is being held at the gallery and studio of Adam Aaronson, another
of our British studio glassmaking stalwarts.
It is at ZeST Gallery, Roxby Place London SW6 Tel. 0207 6101900 www.ZeZTgallery.com (Exhibition now finished-sorry if you missed it. Ed.)
To see Sam's work is to witness living modern history in the making - well, to studio glass
lovers anyway. Don't miss it. I am going soon and hope to have a drink with the Maestro, he promised me one !
Mystery without murder
Now for you glass sleuths a gem of a mystery.
We have, for a long time, being trying to establish not only the whereabouts of the original
Mdina partner of Michael Harris - Eric Dobson- but also to have verified what we have always understood was his signature.
We have to date drawn blanks and cannot get any information from the possible best source, next to Eric himself, which is
Joseph Said who now runs the studio and was there virtually from the beginning.
So always accepting that as we had images and examples of two similar but different signatures,
one of which we are sure is Josephs, we had no reason to doubt strongly that the other must be Eric (and certainly as it wasn't
Mikes). So where is the mystery?? Well I have now come across, having been sent by one of our avids, not one but TWO
signatures on pieces of Mdina which are right by period BUT which show the distinct name of 'Eric Dobson'.
So, images are shown below, (See Picture 3. below) for
those who are intrigued, and know one or two who will be, with the overriding thought that ' the more
answers - the more questions' !
For some while now we have been running our Collectors Mailing Group, details of
which are on the 'Home Page'. This has been a free newsletter and this still remains.
