Glass
Bagley
Bagley, popular with collectors everywhere in particular for its 20th century coloured opaque art deco designs, the company was founded by William Bagley, John William Bagley and John Wild. Bagley (later 'The Crystal Glass Company Limited') operated from the 1870s before takeover in 1962, initially by Jackson's Glassworks.
Bimini
Bimini (Orplid, London) Glass was founded in Austria in 1923, by Fritz Lampl. Not too dissimilar to some Murano glass, the company production included lampwork glass sculptures of figures and animals. Lampworking is a type of glasswork where a torch or lamp is primarily used to melt the glass.
Bohemian
Bohemian Glass or Crystal (leaded glass) from Bohemia (now the West regions of the Czech Republic, formally part of Czechoslovakia) is internationally recognised for its good looks, craftsmanship, colour and quality. The history of Bohemian glass started as a consequence of abundant natural resources found in the region.
Caithness
Caithness Glass is a Scottish artistic glassware manufacturing company established in Wick, Caithness, Scotland in 1961 by Robin Sinclair, 2nd Viscount Thurso. The company was founded to help create additional employment in the face of continuing decline in local fishing and agriculture, and to further take advantage of the proximity of sand for glassmaking in the area. They acquired Whitefriars in 1981 though themselves went into liquidation, with only a very small workforce relocating to Crieff, Perthshire, in 2006.
Émile Gallé
Émile Gallé famous for French Art Nouveau Cameo Glass from the 1870s through 1936. Gallé died in 1904 but his wife continued producing his designs until the outbreak of WWI (*Gallé). After the war new designs were created until closure in 1936. Beware, sought after, there are copious reproductions and fakes to be found.
John Ditchfield
John Ditchfield (Glassform), former apprentice of Italian master glassblower Franco Toffolo, Blackpool, is a current popular glass maker in Lancashire who produces highly desirable signed art glass, including quality iridescent glass, fine vases, fruit shape multi-coloured paperweights, perfume bottles and lampshades.
Mdina
The increasingly popular Mdina Glass collection from Malta, includes vases, lighting solutions, dinner sets, glass tiles, serving bowls and plates. Ever since it opened the islands' first glass factory in 1968, Mdina has endeavoured to establish and maintain a reputation for artistic innovation, quality and consistency.
Murano
Murano Glass is situated on the Venetian island of Murano, specialising in glass wares for centuries, developing or refining technologies including crystalline glass, smalto (enamelled glass) and millefiori (multi-coloured glass). Today, Murano is home to a number of factories and individual artists' studios making all manner of glass.
Ravenhead
Ravenhead Glass (re-branded in 1972) was a glassworks in Lancashire, founded in 1850. Primarily bottle makers until 1931. Influenced by the Art Deco period, they branched out into domestic tableware making bowls, jugs and drinking glasses. You will perhaps unawares know them best for vintage sweet jars with glass stopper lids.
René Lalique
René Jules Lalique, very sought after today, was a French Art Nouveau jewellery and glass designer born in 1860 who was known for his creations of glass art, perfume bottles, vases, jewellery, chandeliers, clocks and car bonnet (American automobile hood) ornaments, noted in particular in the 1920s for his Art Deco style.
Whitefriars
Whitefriars Glass, acquired in 1834 (James Powell & Sons), established in the 17th Century in London, are perhaps best known today for their wares following the 1951 Festival of Britain, and in particular for their freeform designs (1966) by Geoffrey Baxter from 1967 including 'Drunken Bricklayer' and 'Banjo' vases. Whitefriars closed in 1980 and were bought by Caithness Glass the following year…
