Judith Miller on Whitefriars glass

A colourful piece of glass will add instant interest to a neutral room. And, from just £15, Whitefriars’ designs are an affordable choice.

Powell & Sons was founded in 1680 in London; the original site was once a monastery and the company became more commonly known as Whitefriars. The firm grew to prominence during the late 19th century producing art glass, some inspired by Venetian and European styles. During the 1920s they moved to Wealdstone, Middlesex, and in 1962 the name Whitefriars was officially adopted.

In 1954, Royal College of Art graduate Geoffrey Baxter (1922- 1995) was employed as a designer; he produced the most important Whitefriars designs of the late 20th century. His pieces are the most collectable and in many instances the most valuable, and some have become icons of the 20th century: his ideas were modern, and were inspired by Scandinavian glass of the same period.

ABOVE (LEFT - RIGHT): Brown Studio vase, c1969, £220-£280; Blue Banjo vase, 1969-1973, £600-£800; Tangerine Double Diamond from the Late Textured range 1971-1974, £80-£120; Aubergine Textured, 1966, £35-£45.

Baxter’s most characteristic output was the Textured range, designed in 1966 and introduced the following year. All pieces were handmade – being blown into textured moulds – and produced in bright colours with inventive, abstract shapes, drawing inspiration from many sources, including the natural world and geometry.

Glass in the Studio range was made in 15 basic shapes but each one had a unique combination of colour and effect: some opaque, others striped, another shaded. The first Studio range was introduced in 1969 by Baxter’s then assistant, Peter Wheeler, and included finishes of Peacock, Orange and Old Gold; these pieces were high cost and low volume.

Other designers were William Wilson, co-creator of the lobed style and Harry Dyer who worked with him on the ‘Knobbly’ range.

ABOVE (LEFT - RIGHT):Cobalt blue experimental vase, £550-£650; 1950s Ruby red Molar lobed vase, £60-£70.

Tips for collectors

• Consider the form, colour and size of pieces, as these factors affect value considerably.
• Iconic Textured designs such as ‘Banjo’ and ‘Drunken Bricklayer’ have reached a plateau over the past few years, but are still very strong.
• The best examples have good levels of sharp detail, as moulds tended to wear down over time, leaving lower levels of texture.
• Look out for organic ‘Knobbly’ and lobed cased pieces from the 1950s, designed in association with William Wilson, and pieces from the Late Textured range from the 1970s, as these are possibly underpriced. Most were free-formed, so sizes and colours will differ.
• Similarly unique are the pieces from the Studio ranges, which continue to rise in price and popularity.
• For help sourcing Whitefriars glass visit theantiquesdirectory.co.uk.

FEATURE JUDITH MILLER PHOTOGRAPHS GRAHAM COOLEY COLLECTION; MAXWELLS AUCTIONEERS; THE STUDIO GLASS MERCHANT; WOOLLEY & WALLIS
Featured in the February 2010 issue of Period Living

Buy Judith Miller’s Antiques Handbook & Price Guide 2012-2013