Whitefriars Glass Identification Guide + Gallery
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James Powell bought a glass factory in 1834, in the Whitefriars area of London, back then the glassworks was called James Powell & Sons. James' three sons, Arthur Powell, Nathanael Powell and John Powell, ran the factory from 1840. Originally the company made stained glass, and scientific and industrial glass. Whitefriars began making glass tableware during the 1860's. in 1875, Nathanael's son, Harry James Powell, joined Whitefriars, and ran the company until 1919 and created many designs. In 1923, the company relocated to a new factory in Middlesex. Designers at Whitefriars during the 20's, 30's and 40's were Arthur Marriott Powell, William Butler, Barnaby Powell, William Wilson, and James Hogan. In 1954 Geoffrey Baxter joined the design team, and launched his very successful textured glass range in 1967, which included bark vases, the banjo vase, and of course the drunken bricklayer vase. The Whitefriars factory closed in 1980.
Sources: 20th Century Factory Glass by Lesley Jackson.
See also:
Whitefriars Glass Catalogues
Whitefriars Glass Colour Guide
Whitefriars Glass Labels
"Whitefriars Crystal" blue & silver foil label, c 1940 - 1963.
"Whitefriars Crystal, Made in England" black & white paper label, c 1950 - 1963.
"Whitefriars, Made in England" black & white paper label, c 1963 - 1979.
"Whitefriars, Full Lead Crystal, Made in England" black & white paper label, c 1963 - 1979.
"Whitefriars Full Lead Crystal, Handmade in England" gold foil label, c 1978 - 1980.
Whitefriars white paper pattern number label.
"Whitefriars, Made in England" blue & silver foil export label.
"As selected for The Design Centre, London" black and white paper label, found on some Whitefriars glass.
Ribbon Trailed & Wave Ribbed
Produced in amethyst (1930's - 1940's) and ruby (1940's onwards).
A British ruby red glass tumbler vase with wave ribbed pattern. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Marriott Powell around 1930, pattern number 8473.
A British ruby red glass vase with ribbon trail. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Barnaby Powell in 1932, pattern number 8886.
A British ruby red glass vase with ribbon trail. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Barnaby Powell in 1935, pattern number 9030.
A British ruby red glass vase with ribbon trail. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9296.
A British amethyst purple glass vase with ribbon trail. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9297, with blue Whitefriars export label.
A British ruby red glass footed vase with wave ribbed pattern. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9358.
A British ruby red glass bowl with ribbon trail. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9366.
Controlled Bubbles
A British ruby red and clear cased glass bowl with controlled bubble pattern. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9099.
A British ruby red glass lobed vase with controlled bubbles encased in the glass. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9117.
A British golden amber glass ovoid vase with controlled bubble pattern. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9291.
A British sea green glass bowl with controlled bubble pattern. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9293.
A British ruby red glass paperweight with controlled bubble pattern. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9308.
A British ruby red glass ovoid vase with controlled bubble pattern. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9354.
A British sapphire blue glass bowl with controlled bubble pattern. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9377.
A British golden amber glass bowl with controlled bubble pattern. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9391.
A British ruby red and clear cased glass molar / lobed bowl with controlled bubble pattern. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9409.
A ruby red & clear cased glass bowl / ashtray with controlled bubble pattern. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9428.
A British green and clear cased glass ovoid vase with controlled bubble pattern. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9506.
A ruby red & clear cased glass bowl / ashtray with controlled bubble pattern. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9558.
A British aubergine glass lobed vase with controlled bubbles encased in the glass. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9771.
A British ruby red glass lobed vase with controlled bubbles encased in the glass. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9772.
A British ruby red glass lobed vase with controlled bubbles encased in the glass. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9775.
A ruby red & clear cased glass bowl / ashtray with controlled bubble pattern. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9778.
Cased Vases
A British indigo and clear cased glass vase. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9496.
A British blue and clear cased glass vase. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9497.
A British meadow green and clear cased glass ovoid vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9518.
A British aubergine purple and clear cased glass beak vase. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9556.
A British cased green and clear cased glass three sided vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9570.
A British sage green and clear cased glass teardrop vase. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9571.
A British green and clear cased glass teardrop vase. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9572.
A British ruby red and clear cased glass flared vase with horizontal optical ribbing. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9582.
A British ruby red and clear cased glass cylinder vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9583.
A British green and clear cased glass flared vase. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9584.
A British ruby red and clear cased glass ovoid vase with horizontal optical ribbing. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9585.
A British blue glass vase with horizontal optical ribbing. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9586.
A British cased blue and clear cased glass ovoid vase with horizontal optical ribbing. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9587.
A British cased blue and clear cased glass dimpled vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Mike Cripps, pattern number 9627.
A British ruby red and clear cased glass tapering vase. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9647.
A British ruby red and clear cased glass hambone vase. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9656.
A British aubergine purple and clear cased glass lobed vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9727.
A British sage green and clear cased glass "Elephant Foot" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9728, labelled.
A British kingfisher blue and clear cased glass eight sided vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9781.
Cased Bowls
A ruby red & clear cased glass bowl with horizontal optical ribbing. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9380.
A ruby red & clear cased glass bowl / ashtray. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9408.
A green & clear cased glass bowl with pulled up rim. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter in 1954, pattern number 9413.
A blue & clear cased glass bowl / ashtray. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9514.
A British ruby red and clear cased glass oval bowl. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9515.
A British royal blue and clear cased glass three sided bowl. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9516.
A British green and clear cased glass four sided bowl. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9517.
A blue & clear cased glass bowl / ashtray. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9625.
A blue & clear cased glass bowl / ashtray. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9645, labelled.
A cinnamon brown & clear cased glass bowl / ashtray. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9665.
Soda Glass
A British amethyst purple soda glass vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9599.
Knobbly Vases & Bowls
This range of knobbly vases, bowls and lamp bases was designed by William Wilson and Harry Dyer in 1963, and was in production from 1964. Made in cased colours as well as streaky green, streaky brown, and marine (streaky blue & green). New shapes designed by Ray Annenberg were added from 1974.
A British kingfisher blue and clear cased glass knobbly vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by William Wilson and Harry Dyer, pattern number 9608.
A British streaky green and clear glass knobbly vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by William Wilson and Harry Dyer, pattern number 9608.
A British streaky green and clear glass knobbly vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by William Wilson and Harry Dyer, pattern number 9609.
A British streaky brown and clear glass knobbly vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by William Wilson and Harry Dyer, pattern number 9612.
A British streaky green and clear glass knobbly bowl. Made by Whitefriars, designed by William Wilson and Harry Dyer, pattern number 9613.
A blue & clear cased glass knobbly bowl. Made by Whitefriars, designed by William Wilson and Harry Dyer, pattern number 9614.
A British ruby red and clear cased glass knobbly vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Ray Annenberg, pattern number 9844, labelled.
A British sage green and clear cased glass knobbly vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Ray Annenberg, pattern number 9844.
Textured Range
This range of textured, mould blown vases and bowls was designed by Geoffrey Baxter in 1966, and was in production from 1967 - 1980, with new shapes added in each catalogue.
A British cinnamon brown and clear glass "Basket Weave" slab vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9667.
A British tangerine orange and clear glass "Mobile Phone" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9670.
A British cinnamon brown and clear glass "Totem Pole" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9671.
A British tangerine orange and clear glass "Drunken Bricklayer" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9673.
A British cinnamon brown and clear glass "Pyramid" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9674.
A British indigo and clear cased glass "Cello" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9675.
A British cinnamon brown and clear glass "Sunburst" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9676.
A British tangerine orange and clear glass "TV" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9677.
A British cinnamon brown and clear glass "Hooped" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9680.
A British kingfisher blue and clear glass "Nailhead" vase (irregular small dent version). Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9683.
A British tangerine orange and clear glass "Nailhead" vase (regular large dent version). Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9683.
A British tangerine orange and clear glass "Nailhead" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9685.
A British kingfisher blue and clear glass "Coffin" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9686.
A British ruby red and clear glass "Bark" bowl. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9688.
A British sage green and clear glass "Bark" vase (six inch version). Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9689.
A British tangerine orange and clear glass "Bark" vase (seven and a half inch version). Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9690, labelled.
A British ruby red and clear glass "Bark" vase (nine inch version). Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9691.
A British tangerine orange and clear glass "Volcano" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9717.
A British meadow green and clear cased glass "Bark" vase (pre 1974 version). Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9729.
A British kingfisher blue and clear cased glass "Bark" vase (1974 onwards version). Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9729.
A British tangerine orange and clear cased glass "Bottle" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9730.
A British aubergine purple and clear cased glass "Pineapple" or "Pinecone" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9731.
A pair of British ruby red and clear cased glass "Bark" candle holders. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9733.
A British tangerine orange and clear cased glass "Nailhead" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9762.
A ruby red clear textured cased glass "Nailhead" vase (8 inch version). Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9808.
A British ruby red and clear cased glass "Greek Key" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9815.
A British ruby red and clear cased glass "Aztec" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9816.
A British aubergine purple and clear cased glass "Chess" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9817.
A British kingfisher blue and clear cased glass "Mallet" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9818.
A British lilac and clear cased glass "Cooling Tower" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9831.
A British sage green and clear cased glass "Pot Bellied" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9832.
A British ruby red and clear cased glass tapering vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9834, labelled.
A British sage green and clear cased glass "Hourglass" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, part of his textured range, pattern number 9836.
Applied Spots & Ribbon Trails
Designed by Geoffrey Baxter in 1969, and was in production from 1969 - 1971. Produced in three colourways: kingfisher & green, pewter & kingfisher, pewter & tangerine.
A British pewter grey and kingfisher blue glass "Ribbon Trail" vase (ten inch version). Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9706.
A British pewter grey and kingfisher blue glass "Ribbon Trail" vase (eight and a half inch version). Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9707.
A British kingfisher blue and green glass "Ribbon Trail" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9709.
Random Strapped
Vases with applied random strapping, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, in production from 1972 - 1976. Produced in kingfisher, tangerine, aubergine, lilac, and sage green.
An aubergine (purple) & clear cased glass "Random Strapped" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9802.
A kingfisher blue & clear cased glass "Random Strapped" vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9803. Pattern number label on base.
Aqua, Gold & Sky Blue FLC
Coloured full lead crystal in aqua, gold and sky blue, in production from 1978 - 1980.
A British aqua flc (full lead crystal) glass lobed vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9859.
A British gold flc (full lead crystal) glass dimpled vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9863.
A British aqua flc (full lead crystal) glass dimpled vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number 9865.
Barware & Tableware
A set of six British smoky grey glass half pint tumblers. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9262, labelled and boxed.
A pair of smoky glass tumblers. Made by Whitefriars, designed by William Wilson, pattern number M104, labelled.
A flint (clear) textured glass whisky tumbler. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern name "Glacier", pattern number M32. Factory label and pattern number label.
A flint (clear) textured glass fruit bowl. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern number M136.
A set of three flint (clear) textured glass sherry / wine glasses. Made by Whitefriars, designed by Geoffrey Baxter, pattern name "Everest", pattern number M155.
Other Whitefriars Glass
A British golden amber glass vase with applied decoration. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9359, labelled.
A British sea green glass vase. Made by Whitefriars, designed by William Wilson, pattern number 9364.
A British sea green glass lobed vase. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9392.
A British ruby red glass "sparrow beak" jug with applied clear handle and optical ribbing. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9419.
A British ruby red glass flanged vase with applied clear decoration and optical vertical ribbing. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9420, labelled.
A British twilight smoky brown grey glass posy vase. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9471, labelled.
A British ruby red glass bud vase. Made by Whitefriars, pattern number 9484, labelled.
A ruby red glass "Dilly Duck" figurine with controlled bubble effect. Made by Whitefriars, no pattern number.
View more Whitefriars Glass examples in our Glass Reference Database
Buy Whitefriars Glass Products in our Online Glass Store
Whitefriars Glass on eBay UK
Whitefriars Glass on eBay USA
References
For more information on Whitefriars glass, check out the following resources:
Books
Whitefriars Glass: Art of James Powell & Sons | ISBN 978-0903685405
James Powell and Sons: Glassmakers of Whitefriars 1834-1980 | ISBN 978-0904818567
20th Century Factory Glass | ISBN 978-1857322675
Websites
www.whitefriars-glass.com
whitefriarsglass.wixsite.com
whitefriars.glass
whitefriarsglasswannabees.blogspot.co.uk