- Dartington Crystal glass slippers - Glamhag,
A modest admission fee (£6.50, August 2010) provides access to the Dartington Crystal history exhibition as well as the self-guided factory tour.
An Exhibition Detailing the History of Glassblowing and Dartington Crystal
The exhibition details first the history of glass making, including forest glass, stained glass windows and the Venetian connection. Then it provides a chronological timeline of the company from founding in 1967 to the present day. Changes in the stock over the years are documented as is the Swedish connection provided by the expert glassblowers brought in, first to make the glass and, later, to train locals in the skilled trade. There is an audio visual video as well as static displays of items dating back to the early days and examples of the limited edition glassware the firm has been commissioned to produce. These include pieces for the Millennium Dome opening, high-profile weddings and Royal Jubilees. A poster display shows a full range of catalogues and it is interesting to note that colour printing was first used in the 1980s.
See the Master Craftsmen at Work
Glassblowing is an art which is 3000 years old, and production at Dartington would be familiar to the early craftsmen. Visitors can watch as, in a slow ballet, the molten glass is lifted in just the right amounts from the huge furnaces and blown, twirled and moulded into a wine glass, vase or jug. The area where the foot of the glass or handle of the jug is to be placed is heated again and a small blob is placed delicately in the heated area before being flattened almost instantly into the glass foot or quickly turned and fixed again to make the jug handle.
An Overhead View Provides More Detail of the Glassblowing Technique
It is possible to see this in more detail from the viewing gallery above the factory and packing area, where display cases set into the wall provide a chance to examine each stage of the work closely. Every finished piece is inspected, polished by hand and graded according to its perfection. Not that ‘seconds’ have blemishes visible to the naked eye, anything which is that badly damaged is smashed and the shards returned to the furnaces as part of the next day’s load. It is estimated that 250,000 items are made a year, roughly one for each visitor. The first day that the factory experience opened, it saw 5000 people and its popularity has only grown since then.
Try Glassblowing for Yourself or Have a Handprint Cast in Glass
Visitors can have a truly unique memento of their time at the factory, by making a piece of glass for themselves, or having their hand or foot immortalised in a cast print. Booking is advisable at the time of ticket purchase, as it can be quite popular. The Master Engraver is also able to personalise items upon request. The engravers occupy a small corner of the exhibition and visitors are welcome to watch them at work.
An Introduction to the Staff at Dartington
On the way from the viewing gallery to the shop is a series of plaques with photographs and brief biographical information about each of the staff members at Dartington. Glassblowing is very much a family tradition for some: one of the blowers has two brothers also in the trade. Several have spent their entire career at the factory and many of the younger recruits will probably find themselves doing the same.
A Large Factory Shop Selling Fine China, Food and Wine as well as Glass
The shop is divided into sections to allow many different brands to be shown side by side. A full range of Edinburgh Woollen Mill stock is available downstairs, and there is a selection of Yankee Candle goods as well as areas devoted to John Beswick china, Maxwell Williams and Le Creuset home- and cookware, Poole Pottery and Caithness Crystal paperweights and vases. But, naturally, the largest area is given over to Dartington Crystal displays, including wine glasses, tumblers, ornaments, vases, decanters and jugs. With frequent Manager’s Special offers on ‘imperfect goods’ of around £5.00 per glass or £15.00 for a pair, there are prices to suit every pocket. The range of little glass animals is always popular: the collection includes elephants, penguins and hedgehogs alongside cats and dogs.
Dartington Crystal: A Worthwhile Visit
This is one place where visitors are guaranteed not to find any tacky souvenirs or tat. Dartington Crystal is proud of its 40-year heritage and position as the last major UK glass and crystal maker and maintains that aura from beginning to end of the experience. It is a chance to see an art little changed in thousands of years and take away a fine wine glass, vase or jug as a reminder of an informative visit.
Paula Thomas - Paula is, among other things, an editor & proofreader. She also enjoys technology - retro or modern - travel, music, motorsport and ...
