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Latest
Newsletter Hello Fellow Glass Enthusiasts !
As
usual lots of events and goings on surrounding the Wheeler clan, which in this case only really revolves around Ann and myself.
But first ~ Our
website Have you visited our website
lately? If not why not take a quick look now www.artiusglass.co.uk ~ Ann has toiled relentlessly to redesign the website and done a brilliant job to make it far
more straightforward, user friendly and effective considering also that she is completely self taught (watch out
you professional webmasters!). This is something we have been advised to do by our number one son and with his help and
suggestions we are pleased with the results. So
take a look and comment if you feel moved to do so.(Apologies to those of you on hard copy and no computer access - but time
you were dragged screaming into the 21st century surely?!!) We
would appreciate some feedback if you can. The
Navigation Bar to other pages was something that always irked us as the set format used by our hosting company dictated
that it could only be positioned at the bottom of each page but choosing another design has got round the
problem and it is now located on the top left side. There are also far less detailed headings which may
have confused. Another suggestion was to make it less an information site and more a site to purchase from. We
have to say we saw the sense in this straight away and hope it helps. End of year discount Yes, another tear jerkingly sad event for me but I bet it has got your attention! And why
not, we all love a bargain ! However it is, as much
as anything, because we will have no more Fairs from next weekend until the 1st. Jan 2012 so it makes commercial sense
to pass on what are otherwise the overheads of standing and travelling. So 20%
off all items listed on our website from Mon. 10th. Dec. until 31st. Dec. except Cameo and
Graal My sales pitch here is to remind you all of the undoubted and proven benefits
in the investment value in good studio glass as well as the joy and pleasure in ownership in something which gives you
lasting pleasure. A few years back I did some calculations based on the values of some of our main ranges from 1980 (admittedly
it was mostly IoW Studio Glass) and then related those to the current years values of similar, and sometimes the same,
items. It was an eye opening final conclusion as, year on year, it came to 11.6% increase in true values. Now, where else
except very lucky investments on the stock market, could you get that kind of return ?? Not from a building society account
that's for sure and that would just be numbers on a statement which would hardly fill your life with the joy you get from
gazing at something you have bought because you loved it. Mind you I have known one or two folk who probably do. Sad
life innit! So, if you are looking for a wonderful
pension portfolio guess what I would suggest? We will be pleased to serve you !! I still have some of my own very special pieces and my heart leaps whenever I look
at them. You could not do better by doing the same, and at 20% off now is the time, surely ? Now for some 'Pretty Pictures'
1.  This design has almost
reached the stage of being classified in the sometimes overdone category description of 'iconic' ! However
what is for certain, which tends to justify that accolade, is that it HAD to be made by Michael Harris. The
coachbolt mark ensures that it was made roughly within the first year of Michael setting up the studio and at that time he
only had one assistant/trainee ~Timothy Bristow and he would not have had the skill to make it as he was still learning from
Mike. Recent pieces coming on to the market (rarely) have been bid to
some pretty impressive sums so here is a chance to get one for that wonderful pension plan you are all now working on! (See
above !!) 2.Description: Inside Out Vase ~Seaward
Maker : Isle of Wight
Studio Glass Size: 8.5cm (3.25")
high x 9.5cm (3.75") diam. Date: '72/'73 I.D. Marks: Coachbolt impressed prunt Condition : Excellent Price: SOLD (Less Privileged Collectors Group disc @ 12.5% + free p&p ~ to members only)  Kyoto 'Pine' tapered vase Once again
that most desirable range 'Kyoto' made to satisfy the demands of the Japanese after attending a fair in Tokyo to develop
(notice that I do not use the dumbing down description buzz word 'grow' in place of 'develop' !) that particular
market. It must have worked because in response to this range one
of the studio's best overseas customers today is a specialist group from Japan. Interestingly, not for production
items but for a special commission in paperweight shaped urns for their pet's ashes. There is no accounting
for the inscrutable oriental! The description 'Pine' referred to the colour used for the top rim (known
as a 'lip strap' in glass making terms) of most of the range. The other colourway was 'Cherry'. Both
of these were traditional, favoured plants in Japanese culture and so was a very clever, simple marketing move on Michaels
part to court favour in a traditionally difficult and complex market place. Description: Kyoto
'Pine' tapered vase (oval section) Maker : Isle of Wight Studio Glass Size: 18cm (7") high x 11.5cm (4.5") wide x 7.5cm(3")deep Date: 1982~'85 I.D. Marks: Black Triangle sticker Condition : Excellent Price: SOLD (Less Privileged Collectors Group disc @ 12.5% + free p&p ~ to members only) Another, new to us, Glassmakers range We
are sure a lot of you will be familiar with the wonderful work of another of this country's finest studio glassmaker stalwarts
by the name of Peter Layton. Peter has a long and illustrious background which is easily researched by a Google search (sorry
to you Luddites!). But in short Peter started amongst the new school of emerging Studio glassmakers in the late 60's and
even helped Sam Herman ( Michael Harris' mentor if you recall) set up his furnaces at the Hothouse in Covent Garden. He
didn't actually become part of the illustrious team (the many of our most accomplished studio glassmakers who endure to
this day) preferring to establish his own London Glassblowing workshop amongst others. Here is a part of his biography
from his website ~ ' 1969 he
helped Sam Herman build the first furnace at the Glasshouse in Covent Garden and he subsequently established his own small
glass studio at Morar in the Highlands of Scotland, a Glass Department at Hornsey College of Art (Middlesex University) and,
in 1976, the London Glassblowing Workshop in an old towage works on the Thames at Rotherhithe. In 2009 Peter’s London
Glassblowing Studio and Gallery moved to much larger premises in Bermondsey '. His work has always attracted me but as I didn't represent him in my agency business I did not pursue stocking his ranges when changing from agency representation to our present modus operandi. However, the time has come and especially as I now feel that his glass has a much more acceptably commercial feel from our point of view (sorry Peter but just our opinion!) as opposed to 'Art Glass' per se we felt it was time to make an approach. We tried to do this at
the Contemporary Glass Society's conference at the De la Warr Pavilion (see last news letter) which we attended and at
which Peter gave a short presentation. However, it was all too busy to talk properly as he was in great demand, so we left
it until last week to visit his new studio when Ann and I were 'oop 't smoke' on a tennis jolly (ATP World Championship
finals at O2 Arena - fantastic day). Anyway,
we all got on very well and came away bursting with enthusiasm as we also saw some of his unique gems which we have promised
ourselves on our next visit. At the moment we have taken some pieces from 3 different designs to introduce to you, our collectors,
as well as a wider public at the 2012 fairs starting on Jan.1st at Winchester (see details below). Go to Peter's website at gallery@londonglassblowing.co.uk (apologies again to the Luddites!) to get a feel for some of his mouthwatering designs. It
is rather gratifying to see that his work now follows the guidelines which Michael Harris put in place all those years ago
to offer ranges in designs and shapes which in essence are replicatable whilst still encompassing the principles of one-off
Studio glass art work. This in our opinion is a much more stable way to introduce a wider public to the joys of good studio
glass rather than sometimes very strange forms in so called 'art' glass some of which we witnessed
at the Contemporary Glass Society's conference. Right ~ off the soap box! In passing, and ending this subject, Peter is also a
Director of the prestigious American Glass Art Society from which no doubt the U.K society sprang. Well worth a look
at their site also (sorry to the ....yes ~ well you get the drift !) www.GlassArt.org These are images,
and a preview, of the items we have currently taken for stock but are NOT included in our sale and they
are not yet shown on our website.
 Ariel stoneform vase 
Glacier sphere vase  Paradiso stoneform vase 5.25 high 
Glacier stoneform vase
8.5" high As ever, our very
best regards, Ron & Ann Finally - as usual -
please make contact by any of the following ~ Phone or text :
07860 822666 mobile (best method) or 01458 443694 land line(includes messaging service). Please remember to check our fair dates on the website www.ArtiusGlass.co.uk but if you are going to email we can now pick these up on our Blackberry
even though we may be staying away for a fair. Email :
Wheeler.Ron@talktalk.net n.b. The Artius Glass Newsletters are only sent to individuals on a subscriber request basis. Should you wish to be removed from our list please send an email with the word 'UNSUBSCRIBE'
in the 'Subject' line and we will remove your name from any future mailings. If,
however, you would like anyone you know to also receive them please advise us of their email address or add it to the live
window on the 'Home Page' of the website The contents of this letter
are subject to International Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights of Artius Glass. They must not be reproduced without
the express permission of the authors (c) Artius Glass
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