November 2007

THE GOLDEN AGE OF VENETIAN GLASS

The monthly lecture of Farnham Decorative and Fine Arts Society was held at the Maltings on Tuesday, 20 November when Jane Gardiner, the former Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director of Sotheby’s spoke on “The Golden Age of Venetian Glass”.   This was a topic of great interest to many members and Jane Gardiner gave a most informative talk illustrated with some beautiful examples of Venetian glass.

The Romans perfected the technique of forming and making glass as early as the 4th Century AD and once they retreated the glass making died out with them and only the most basic kind was produced until Venetian glass emerged in the 12th Century.    This was clear soda glass with air bubbles trapped inside and enamel decoration.   The Venetians were making thin clear glass by the 13th Century and then thickly blown and richly coloured with cobalt, copper and manganese enamelling and gilding by the 15th Century.   Glass was mostly ornamental and given as gifts to royalty, as betrothal cups, display plates etc.  Philip II owned 56 pieces of ice glass which looked like a shattered car windscreen achieved by plunging the glass into very cold water and the hairline cracks give a frosted appearance.

It was some time before thin glass was used as drinking cups and this was a revelation having been metal cups beforehand; this was a stylish way to drink and it is amazing that these fragile examples have survived.    Jane Gardiner interspersed her lecture with amusing stories surrounding the numerous Venetian glass objects and explained the varying styles, patterns, decorations using gold leaf and inspirations from painters.

Chairman, Frances Ashworth welcomed members at the start reminding everyone that we are having a Christmas Drinks Party following the Noel Coward December lecture.  She also advised that bookings were commencing for the February Study Day by Douglas Skeggs, on 500 years of Art in Venice continuing the Venetian theme.

 

ONCE UPON A TIME ON A BLUE AND WHITE PLATE

The true story of the Willow Pattern and ‘Blue and White’

On 28th. November we had a Study Day on blue and white china and specially the English proliferation of Willow Pattern china. Our lecturer was Amanda Harries, an Oriental Specialist.

We learnt how porcelain was first made in China and then the industry spread to Japan and because of the Silk Route gradually began to be made in Europe in France and Germany then in England at Chelsea, Bow and the Potteries. In the East it was originally just tea bowls and saucers but the British adopted china for dinner services and general use. We saw lovely slides of plates made in Japan and not blue and white but more vibrant colours. Two in particular from the 17th century were almost Art Deco in design.

The Willow Pattern plates were an English invention and never occurred anywhere else. The story of the star crossed lovers being turned into doves by the gods was used in many different forms. Amanda brought some of her collection of china and so did we.

It was interesting to see how the wheel eventually had turned full circle with blue and white china being exported to the East from the West.