Thomas Webb and Sons
Encyclopedia
Thomas Webb & Sons was an English
glass
company, founded in 1837 by Thomas Webb
(1804-1869) near Stourbridge
, England. The name T. Webb & Co. was adopted in 1842, and later became Thomas Webb & Sons. Webb operated the Platts glasshouse from 1837 to 1856 and then the Dennis glassworks from 1855 to 1990.
The company, known originally as the "Crystal King of England," was noted for the high quality of its Cameo glass
. Cameo glass is created by a process of etching
and carving through a layer of opaque white glass, leaving a white relief design on a darker colored glass body. Some pieces used two layers of etched glass to create a three-color Cameo glass product. In the 1870s John Norwood produced the first pieces, inspired by the Portland Vase
. George Woodall would produce the most distinguished Webb Cameo work towards the end of the 19th century.
The finest and most valuable pieces were signed with "GEM CAMEO" included in the mark - Roman cameo glass was itself an imitation of the luxury art form of the cameo engraved gem.
In 1889 Thomas Webb & Sons secured an American patent for their process, and in that same year they received a Grand Prix for their exquisite colored glass at the 1889 Paris Exposition
. They were part of the Tiffany & Co. exhibit at the exposition.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
company, founded in 1837 by Thomas Webb
Thomas Webb
Thomas Webb is the name of:* Thomas Webb , founder of Thomas Webb & Sons* Thomas Webb , Methodist pioneer in the United States* Thomas Smith Webb , Masonic author...
(1804-1869) near Stourbridge
Stourbridge
Stourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston, Wollescote and Wordsley The...
, England. The name T. Webb & Co. was adopted in 1842, and later became Thomas Webb & Sons. Webb operated the Platts glasshouse from 1837 to 1856 and then the Dennis glassworks from 1855 to 1990.
The company, known originally as the "Crystal King of England," was noted for the high quality of its Cameo glass
Cameo Glass
Cameo glass is a luxury form of glass art produced by etching and carving through fused layers of differently colored glass to produce designs, usually with white opaque glass figures and motifs on a dark-colored background...
. Cameo glass is created by a process of etching
Etching
Etching is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal...
and carving through a layer of opaque white glass, leaving a white relief design on a darker colored glass body. Some pieces used two layers of etched glass to create a three-color Cameo glass product. In the 1870s John Norwood produced the first pieces, inspired by the Portland Vase
Portland Vase
The Portland Vase is a Roman cameo glass vase, currently dated to between AD 5 and AD 25, which served as an inspiration to many glass and porcelain makers from about the beginning of the 18th century onwards. Since 1810 the vase has been kept almost continuously in the British Museum in London...
. George Woodall would produce the most distinguished Webb Cameo work towards the end of the 19th century.
The finest and most valuable pieces were signed with "GEM CAMEO" included in the mark - Roman cameo glass was itself an imitation of the luxury art form of the cameo engraved gem.
In 1889 Thomas Webb & Sons secured an American patent for their process, and in that same year they received a Grand Prix for their exquisite colored glass at the 1889 Paris Exposition
Exposition Universelle (1889)
The Exposition Universelle of 1889 was a World's Fair held in Paris, France from 6 May to 31 October 1889.It was held during the year of the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, an event traditionally considered as the symbol for the beginning of the French Revolution...
. They were part of the Tiffany & Co. exhibit at the exposition.