STUDIO glass is among the very liveliest areas of the decorative arts to have emerged in Britain during the second half of the 20th century and some of it is now highly sought after.
The author, who lectures on the history of ceramics and glass at Staffordshire, and whose book The Culture of Ceramics will be published next year, writes a brief chapter on the history and traditions of glassmaking – John Ruskin thundering... “all cut glass is barbarous” – and discusses the new approaches to glassmaking that evolved during the 1960s, liberating glassmaking from the factory and placing it in the hands of individual glassmakers. In a now throroughly art-conscious scene, the result has been colourful, innovative and exciting work. Good introduction to contemporary art glassmakers.
A different cut altogether
Studio Glass 1960-2000 by Graham McLaren, published by Shire Publications. ISBN 073780527X. £4.99sb
