Glassblower

Maker:

British School, 19th century

ID:

80.547/1007

Production date:

1810-1830

Location:

In Store

This is probably the earliest British painting of a glassblower. A Whitefriars glassblower is seated on a glassblower's 'chair' shaping the foot of a wine glass with tongs. By his side are an assortment of callipers and a box filled with glass products, including two ring decanters which may date from the 1820s. Due to the intense heat in the glass factory, he is wearing only a shirt and knee breeches. On his right wrist is a leather cuff to protect him from broken or hot glass.  < ...Read more

This is probably the earliest British painting of a glassblower. A Whitefriars glassblower is seated on a glassblower's 'chair' shaping the foot of a wine glass with tongs. By his side are an assortment of callipers and a box filled with glass products, including two ring decanters which may date from the 1820s. Due to the intense heat in the glass factory, he is wearing only a shirt and knee breeches. On his right wrist is a leather cuff to protect him from broken or hot glass.

Whitefriars glassworks, which had been in operation since around 1700, was bought by the Powell family in 1834. It closed down in 1980. < Hide

Measurements

H 542 mm; W 432 mm (unframed), H 650 mm; W 545 mm (framed), H 650 mm; W 550 mm; D 50 mm (overall)

Materials

oil; canvas

Last Updated

2024-03-26