We have had some super experiences in our quest to pay tribute to FB's stained glass, but today was probably the most exciting - colour, movement, heat, light, skill, artistry, burning cauldrons (well furnaces actually but cauldrons sounds more exciting) - this took the proverbial Rich Tea. This had energy, which accords with the rather Tiggerish nature of your scribe - stained glass windows have an unfortunate habit of standing still for long periods of time.Ah, sorry, you want to know what we did? I will keep you in suspenders no longer - we made a visit to English Antique Glass Limited near Alvechurch, Brum area, the ONLY firm in this country producing glass by the traditional methods. In fact one could count the number of similar facilities in the whole of Europe on one hand.
It struck us that if we were to include an educational film about the making of a stained glass panel (by Gareth Morgan AMGP you recall) we perhaps ought to go back one step further and show how the glass sheets themselves are made.
Harry Prior, a Master Glassblower and fellow North Easterner, explained the whole process for us; we watched enthralled as he and Walter Pinches blew glass cylinders and placed them in the glory hole (above); and David Gwilt flattened the writhing almost anthropomorphic glass into sheets. Mike Tuffy, the MD, explained more about the business side whilst Alison Hensey and Sue Eggleton supplied us with information sheets and coffee. And Barney bounced around and sat when instructed so to do. Such a welcoming, amenable band of people it would be hard to meet. Harry was the star of the show though, giving up most of his afternoon for our filming and providing us with a most professional introduction to glass making.
If you want to know more go to http://www.englishantiqueglass.co.uk/
Below left to right: Walter blowing a glass cylinder, Harry in attendance; flattening a glass cylinder; a small sample of the many and varied colours of glass produced by the firm
Left: Charles working hard as ever!PS It didn't rain!
