Crafting Clarity: British Glassware in the Age of Enlightenment

70 products

70 products
George III Giltwood Pier Mirror 175x94cm, 18th-century, Rococo, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George III Giltwood Pier Mirror 175x94cm, 18th-century, Rococo, glass
George III Giltwood Pier Mirror 175x94cm
Irish Regency Convex Mirror Signed Arthur Williams, circa 1815, giltwood and ebonised – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Irish Regency Convex Mirror Signed Arthur Williams, circa 1815, giltwood and ebonised
Irish Regency Convex Mirror Signed Arthur Williams
George I Gesso Pier Mirror, 18th-century, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George I Gesso Pier Mirror, 18th-century, glass, photographed from another angle
George I Gesso Pier Mirror
8 light Regency Tent and Waterfall Chandelier, circa 1820, cut glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
8 light Regency Tent and Waterfall Chandelier
Federal Parcel Gilt Overmantle Mirror, circa 1800, ebonised and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Federal Parcel Gilt Overmantle Mirror, circa 1800, ebonised and glass
Federal Parcel Gilt Overmantle Mirror
Central Italian 17th Century Baroque Giltwood Mirror 161x136cm, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Central Italian 17th Century Baroque Giltwood Mirror 161x136cm
Central Italian 17th Century Baroque Giltwood Mirror 161x136cm
Large Scale 5ft Oval Blue and Clear Border Glass Mirror, 19th-century, Victorian, giltwood – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Large Scale 5ft Oval Blue and Clear Border Glass Mirror, 19th-century, Victorian, giltwood
Large Scale 5ft Oval Blue and Clear Border Glass Mirror
Pair of George III Giltwood Oval Mirrors, circa 1770, Neo-Classical, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of George III Giltwood Oval Mirrors, circa 1770, Neo-Classical, glass
Pair of George III Giltwood Oval Mirrors
Chinoiserie Black Japanned Overmantel Mirror, 19th-century, Victorian, giltwood and glass – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Chinoiserie Black Japanned Overmantel Mirror, 19th-century, Victorian, giltwood and glass
Chinoiserie Black Japanned Overmantel Mirror
Antique Pair Of Glazed Bookcases / Display Cabinets, circa 1840, Neoclassical, ebonised and glass – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Antique Pair Of Glazed Bookcases / Display Cabinets, circa 1840, Neoclassical, ebonised and glass
Antique Pair Of Glazed Bookcases / Display Cabinets
A fine pair of giltwood girandoles, English, 19th Century, in the manner of William France, Georgian
Alternative view of the fine pair of giltwood girandoles, English, 19th Century, in the manner of William France, Georgian
A fine pair of giltwood girandoles, English, 19th Century, in the manner of William France
English Regency Giltwood Convex Mirror, 19th-century, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
English Regency Giltwood Convex Mirror
Regency Convex Mirror with a Black Eagle, giltwood and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Regency Convex Mirror with a Black Eagle
Pair of Irish Oval Lozenge Mirrors, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of Irish Oval Lozenge Mirrors, glass, photographed from another angle
Pair of Irish Oval Lozenge Mirrors
Early Dutch Ripple Molded Mirror 94x81 cm, circa 1700, Baroque, ebony and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Early Dutch Ripple Molded Mirror 94x81 cm
George III Chinese Chippendale Rococo Giltwood Girandole Mirror, 18th-century, glass – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George III Chinese Chippendale Rococo Giltwood Girandole Mirror, 18th-century, glass
George III Chinese Chippendale Rococo Giltwood Girandole Mirror
Regency Gilt and Bronze Dishlight, crystal, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Regency Gilt and Bronze Dishlight
Fine English 19th Century Regency Convex Mirror, giltwood and ebonised, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Fine English 19th Century Regency Convex Mirror, giltwood and ebonised
Fine English 19th Century Regency Convex Mirror
18th Century Gilt Carton-pierre Wall Mirror, George III, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
18th Century Gilt Carton-pierre Wall Mirror
Queen Anne Border Glass Giltwood Pier Mirror, 18th-century, Georgian, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Queen Anne Border Glass Giltwood Pier Mirror, 18th-century, Georgian
Queen Anne Border Glass Giltwood Pier Mirror
George Bullock Breakfront Rosewood and Brass Inlaid Side Cabinet, 19th-century, Regency, marquetry – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George Bullock Breakfront Rosewood and Brass Inlaid Side Cabinet, 19th-century, Regency, marquetry
George Bullock Breakfront Rosewood and Brass Inlaid Side Cabinet
Chequerboard Ripple Moulded Mirror - Dutch Ebonised, circa 1720, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Chequerboard Ripple Moulded Mirror - Dutch Ebonised, circa 1720, glass
Chequerboard Ripple Moulded Mirror - Dutch Ebonised
John Linnell Oval Gilt Mirror, 18th-century, George III, giltwood and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the John Linnell Oval Gilt Mirror, 18th-century, George III, giltwood and glass
John Linnell Oval Gilt Mirror
A Queen Anne Silvered Mirror Sconce 90x57cm, 18th-century, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Queen Anne Silvered Mirror Sconce 90x57cm, 18th-century, glass
A Queen Anne Silvered Mirror Sconce 90x57cm
Queen Anne Overmantel Mirror, 18th-century, Georgian, giltwood, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Queen Anne Overmantel Mirror, 18th-century, Georgian, giltwood
Queen Anne Overmantel Mirror
George II Triple Plate Overmantle Mirror, 18th-century, giltwood and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George II Triple Plate Overmantle Mirror, 18th-century, giltwood and glass
George II Triple Plate Overmantle Mirror
Rare Italian Gilt Bronze Metal Girandole Mirror, circa 1750, Rococo, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Rare Italian Gilt Bronze Metal Girandole Mirror, circa 1750, Rococo, glass
Rare Italian Gilt Bronze Metal Girandole Mirror
19th Century Rectangular French Empire Gilt Frame Mirror, giltwood and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the 19th Century Rectangular French Empire Gilt Frame Mirror, giltwood and glass
19th Century Rectangular French Empire Gilt Frame Mirror
Neo Classical late 18th Century Parcel-gilt Pier Mirror, circa 1800, giltwood and glass – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Neo Classical late 18th Century Parcel-gilt Pier Mirror, circa 1800, giltwood and glass
Neo Classical late 18th Century Parcel-gilt Pier Mirror
George III Rococo giltwood oval mirror, 18th-century, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George III Rococo giltwood oval mirror, 18th-century, glass
George III Rococo giltwood oval mirror
Mahogany Overmantel Mirror in the Manner of Robert Adam, Regency, glass and marquetry – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Mahogany Overmantel Mirror in the Manner of Robert Adam, Regency, glass and marquetry
Mahogany Overmantel Mirror in the Manner of Robert Adam
Pair of Giltwood Wall Mirrors, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of Giltwood Wall Mirrors, glass, photographed from another angle
Pair of Giltwood Wall Mirrors
Fret-Cut George III Mahogany Veneered Mirror with Gilt Ho-Ho Bird, 18th-century, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Fret-Cut George III Mahogany Veneered Mirror with Gilt Ho-Ho Bird, 18th-century
Fret-Cut George III Mahogany Veneered Mirror with Gilt Ho-Ho Bird
George I Gilt Gesso Girandole, 18th-century, Rococo, brass and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George I Gilt Gesso Girandole, 18th-century, Rococo, brass and glass
George I Gilt Gesso Girandole
Rare Early 19th Century Regency Octagonal Convex Mirror, giltwood and ebonised, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Rare Early 19th Century Regency Octagonal Convex Mirror, giltwood and ebonised
Rare Early 19th Century Regency Octagonal Convex Mirror
18 Inch Pair Of Voneche Cut Glass Urns and Covers, circa 1830, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the 18 Inch Pair Of Voneche Cut Glass Urns and Covers, circa 1830
18 Inch Pair Of Voneche Cut Glass Urns and Covers
Early 19th Century British Regency Convex Mirror, giltwood and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Early 19th Century British Regency Convex Mirror
23 Art Deco WMF Myra Iridescent Glass Bowls And Vases, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the 23 Art Deco WMF Myra Iridescent Glass Bowls And Vases, photographed from another angle
23 Art Deco WMF Myra Iridescent Glass Bowls And Vases
Dieppe Bone Mirror, 19th-century, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Dieppe Bone Mirror, 19th-century, glass, photographed from another angle
Dieppe Bone Mirror
A George III flame veneered mahogany wall mirror, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George III flame veneered mahogany wall mirror, glass, photographed from another angle
A George III flame veneered mahogany wall mirror

During the 18th century, glassmaking in Britain experienced significant developments and innovations. One significant development during the 18th century was the invention of lead crystal by George Ravenscroft. Lead crystal, also known as flint glass, was a type of glass that contained a high percentage of lead oxide, which gave it a brilliant sparkle and a distinctive "ring" when tapped. Ravenscroft's lead crystal was highly prized for its clarity and brilliance, and it became a popular choice for luxury glassware, such as drinking glasses, decanters, and chandeliers.

Another notable style of glassware during this period was "façon de Venise," which refers to glassware made in the Venetian style. Venetian glass was highly regarded for its vibrant colours, intricate patterns, and skilled craftsmanship. British glassmakers sought to emulate this style by adopting Venetian techniques and designs.

Float glass was also used in mirror production during the 18th century. Thomas Sheraton and Denis Diderot, prominent furniture designers and writers of the time, documented the use of glass in mirrors in their works. Mirrors were considered luxury items, and the use of large sheets of glass in mirror production allowed for more elaborate mirrors to be made, which were highly valued for their decorative and functional purposes.

In addition to Venetian-style glass and lead crystal, British glassmakers during the 18th century also produced a wide range of other glassware, including drinking glasses, vases, bowls, and decorative objects. Glassware was often embellished with intricate engravings, cuttings, and decorative elements, reflecting the prevailing design aesthetics of the time, which included rococo, neoclassical, and chinoiserie styles.

The 18th century was a period of great creativity and innovation in British glassmaking, with glassware being highly valued for its beauty, functionality, and status symbol. Georgian glass, as it is commonly known, continues to be highly collectible and sought after by collectors and enthusiasts of 18th-century decorative arts today.
Recently viewed