Newly appointed French Agent & glass talk Hotwells History Society

We have just had a visit to our workshops by two French visitors. Madame
Marie-Agnes Laudes, the Commercial Attache to the Bristish Embassy in
Paris, over in the South West on a visit to various companies, spent an
afternoon at our workshops, fascinated by the process of glass-blowing.
As she said, it was the high-light of her trip, and made such a change
from sitting in offices and looking at power-point displays. She was
accompanied from Paris by our newly appointed French Agent, Madam Sarah
Ouazani, who returned to Paris with a case full of samples including our
Silver Luxury range, and our new Silver-leaf range.

In the evening, our French visitors accompanied the Company Secretary, Dr. Burroughes, to a
meeting of the Clifton Village and Hotwells History Society, where he
gave a talk on the history of glass, with special reference to the glass
industry in Bristol. The members were able to pass round examples from
Dr. Burroughes’ private collection of glass, and were thrilled to be
able to handle pieces of glass from Roman times to the modern day, and
from around the world, including two particularly rare examples of
seventeenth century glass from China. Of particular interest to them
were the examples of glass from Bristol, from the early eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries, including of course glass made and signed from the
famous Lazarus workshop.

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And Finaly! – The Lord Mayors “Official” Wine Glass Collection Handover

The lord Mayors wineglass collection was finally in its place, beautifully arranged around the 16 seated, conference table at the Bristol Lord Mayors Mansion House. The press were there taking photos and notes. Various other figures were floating around admiring the grand new wine glass collection.

Of course we are delighted to have made our mark on Bristol City with a collection of wine glasses that may well be here for longer than you or I.

Each of the 16 table places were adorned with 4 of the 5 prestigious wineglasses. At the head of the room was an ornate old oak table boasting the full range of wineglasses made for the Lord Mayor of Bristol. The process for filling such a large order and one that has to be of the highest quality or a Royal standard is a long one to say the least. Each glass was hand blown, graded to the highest of standards and then engraved with the Bristol Royal Crest and also unobtrusively engraved around the base of each was our company name Bristol Blue Glass SW and the makers names S.Baker & B.Taylor.

Its truly lovely to actually see the end products, in their new grand grand home, arranged so gracefully side by side. We sincerely hope the glasses have a smashing time in their new Mansion Home.

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Glass Gossip – February Newsletter

We have been out and about this month, meeting old friends and new
customers. First of all, we were at the Giving and Living Trade Fair at
Exeter, where we met several customers who had come to see our new
ranges. The halls were perhaps not as busy as we would have liked to
see, but a number of new clients came to see us to see what we had to
offer, when planning their purchasing policy for the coming year.

The very next day after the Exeter Fair, we were off on our travels
again to Paris, to the Maison et Objects Trade Exhibition. This is held
in the French equivalent of the National Exhibition Centre, just to the
north of Paris. This is an absolutely huge show, concentrating on the
very upper end of the luxury market. It was surprising to see how many
foreign entries world-wide there were at the show, but all the exhibits
were of the highest quality and most beautifully displayed. One of the
objects of the trip was to take the first steps to appointing an agent
to work for Bristol Blue Glass South West in France. I am very pleased
to say that we have identified two agents, one to work in the Ile de
France and Paris region, and one to cover the South West area of France,
and we are beginning discussions with a view to appointments in the spring.

While in Paris, we had the opportunity of showing samples of our glass
to the Commercial Attaché at the British Embassy, who was astounded at
the quality and design of our products. We also took the opportunity to
show our product to other experienced buyers, and without exception the
reaction was the same, “un range de la plus haute gamme.” In fact, we
almost (but not quite!) got tired of hearing the phrase!

The next day after returning from Paris, we met with two representatives
from the British Embassies in Stockholm and in Copenhagen, who again
were very impressed with the quality of our products. However, we do not
have plans this year to take our glass to Scandinavia, but it is  something we shall bear in mind for the future.

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Gift Manufacturer & Supplier of the year award for 2009/2010

Bristol Blue Glass has its root roots dating back to the 18th century, when Bristol Merchant Potter Richard Champion and Chemist William Cookworthy added Cobalt Oxide to the recently invented lead crystal substrate, to create an amazing soft blue coloured Glass, which became extremely popular.

Today, sought after the world over, Bristol Blue Glass is available at BRISTOL BLUE GLASS SW, one of only two genuine Bristol Blue Glass companies left in Bristol today. Founder of the company and Master Glass Blower Steve Baker, commented: “We produce our own designs and produce Lead Crystal Glassware to the very highest standard, using our own unique batch blend of Silica Sand, Lead Oxide, Potash & Cobalt to maintain the colour match produced centuries ago when Bristol blue glass first took the fancy of rich merchants and traders around the city. By doing so we have produced that unique soft blue colour that today we associate with Bristol Blue Glass and in turn earned a reputation for excellence through skill and design”

In fact, the Judges at Business & Trade Express were so impressed with the quality of workmanship and the range of distinctive blue glassware provided by BRISTOL BLUE GLASS SW they voted unanimously in favour of the company received by this years B.A GIFT MANUFACTURE & SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2009/2010, a completely independent Award Programme recognised both locally and nationally.
Not every company can walk away with one of these accolades, that have become the hallmark of success, but those that do all emerge from the process a more successful business, with many having gone on to become acknowledged leaders in the market place.

The extensive product range includes Vases; Decanters, Candlesticks, Stemware, Dishes and Bowls, as well as novelty items and Christmas Gifts. Superlative examples of the company’s unique glass-blowers’ art also available as Limited Editions.

Also new this year are the two ranges, Silver Ultimate Luxury, which features hall-marked solid silver fittings and decoration, and the Silver-leaf range, which combine the blue glass with abstract patterns in genuine silver leaf. These unique lines will undoubtedly become heirloom pieces of the future. Having recently undertaken a prestigious order for the Lord Mayor of Bristol City, the company, is able to undertake commissions to bring your ideas into reality for that special occasion or personal or corporate gifts. Visitors, including groups, private parties, schools, etc, are always welcome at BRISTOL BLUE GLASS SW, 66A Anthea Road, Fishponds Trading Estate, Fishponds Bristol. BS5 7EX Tel: 0117 965 1989 Fax: 01823 652 555 Email: sales@bristolblueglass.com http://www.bristolblueglass.com

Detail, house of a rich merchant, Jaisalmer
Photo by Girl in the Rain
Fostoria Glass Company
Photo by Focht
Cobalt Roses

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BRISTOL BLUE GLASS SOUTH WEST & THE LORD MAYOR OF BRISTOL

BRISTOL BLUE GLASS SOUTH WEST & THE LORD MAYOR OF BRISTOL

Bristol Blue Glass South West have completed a substantial order for the Lord Mayor of Bristol, for a set of wine glasses for the Mansion House, to be used at official functions. Each glass has been engraved with the city’s coat of arms, and they look very splendid, this will be a wonderful advertisement for the city in the years to come. We are delighted to have been selected to represent the Bristol glass industry and hope that our products will compare favourably with the best examples from the eighteenth centuries.

The official hand over of the new glasses to the Lord Mayor took place on  30th November 2009 at our factory in Fishponds, BS5 7EX at 3pm.  The Lord Mayor was delighted and said  “It is good to have such splendid examples of glass manufactured in the city, which are going to be part of our heritage for years to come. They will look absolutely wonderful at official functions in the Mansion House. It is amazing how many hours of work goes in to each glass.“

All production processes are undertaken on site at Bristol Blue Glass (South West) at Fishponds, Bristol, BS5 7EX

The product ranges & history for Bristol Blue Glass South West can be found on our NEW website at www.bristolblueglass.com.

For further information please contact either Niki Matyjasik on 07720 887080, Angela Payne on 01179 651989 or Francis Burroughes on 01823 652500

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