Stourbridge Glassmakers On the Move

Kate Round


Organisation:
DMBC Museum Service
Region:
West Midlands
Notice Period:
Regular (more than one month's notice)
Type:
Professional
Fee:
Paid: £45 plus mileage at .45p/mile from DY8 4AZ
Category:
History
Updated:
6th October 2020

The White House Cone glass museum represents over 400 years of the history, artistry and heritage of the Stourbridge Glassmaking Industry; the collections and archives are now on the move to this new vanguard museum built on the site of the Stuart Crystal Whitehouse Glass Cone. Likewise, the glassmakers throughout the centuries have moved on, but where to? And what have they accomplished? The Stourbridge glassblowers took the expertise of the integrated Huguenot crown-glass makers and they enhanced the material with the innovation of lead crystal. The industry became licenced and regulated and so moved from family ‘forest glassmakers’ to industrial glass cones producing quantities of fine ‘Crystallo’ to rival any produced by the Venetians. Discover the influences of Sugar, Salt and window taxes and wars; follow the changing techniques and product invention from window glass and utility glassware; to fine tableware and to scientific and industrial glassware; and learn how the skills derived from Stourbridge Glassmakers revolutionised domestic cookware. The industry was driven by demand and fashion, and constrained by materials, politics and taxes, but the ingenious glassmakers of Stourbridge circumvented obstacles and moved to practice their skills making beautiful bespoke objets-d’art thus seeking their fortunes in some surprising ways and places.

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About Kate Round

My name is Dr Kate Round; I am an outreach presenter and tour guide for Dudley Museum Service

In the glass industry, my interests include the historical development of the industry in the Stourbridge district, how the geology and geography impacted on the wealth and sociology of the area, driven by the rivalries of our Glass Dynasties.

In my previous life, I was a research chemist and lecturer so understand the chemistry of glass having worked on the synthesis of ‘zeolites’ (silica based materials) with my work published in International Journals.

I have always lived in the Black Country and have a strong industrial family heritage, I have also been proud to serve my community as a local Magistrate for twenty years.

Find out more at www.kateround.com


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