Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-07-29
GInss and Its History.

Many people collect china, furni-
ture and curios, which can be done
fairly easily, but the collecting of
old glass presents certain difficulties,
which, however, are of by no means
an insurmountable nature. The
fact that glass is brittle and fragile,
and that it was frequently subjected
to severe and rough handling in the
past (notably in the case of Jaco-
bite glass; makes it easy to under
stand why some specimens are so
rare, and others unobtainable.
Nevertheless, the study of glass and
its history cannot fail to prove most
interesting, and the would-be col
lector need not feel discouraged in
any way, for there is a large field
open before him.
In these days the use Of glass en-
ters so largely into our daily life
that it is a matter of wonder to us
that in the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries, and even later, it was only
the rich who could afford to use it,
and that others less we'll off had to
content themselves with horn, leath-
ern and wooden vessels.
Glass belonging to Anglo-Saxon
times has been found from time to
time in Great Britain, but there is
nothing to show that it was made in
this country. The main interest Of
English glass manufacture dates
from 1549, when certain Venetian
glassmakers, from Murano, came to
London, in search of more regular
employment than they could get at
home. There were stringent laws
against their art being exported, but
Notwithstanding this, there was an
exodus of Venetians to both the Low
countries and England about this
time. No doubt it is to these people
that we owe the impulse to make
better glass, and the improvement in
the style of glass made in England
is due to the influence of Jacob
Verzelini, of whom Stow writes,
"The first making of We. ice glasses |
in England began at the Crotch ct
Friars in London, about the begin
ming of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, |
by one Jacob Vessaline, an Italian"
A specimen reputed to be by him
is to be found in the British Museum. !
IF ic q dacOrofod oIaeo ond hoors f1,o
date 1886 and the initials G. S. and
a motto, ON: God: Is: Mi: Trust"
Verzelini who came to London in
1875, undoubtedly reused the Eng
lish to sense of their own capabili-
ties. The English mobiles began TO
form glass companies and the work
went ahead, but soon came an out
cry owing to the rapid consumption
of wood, which led to the introduc-
tion of coal furnaces.
The monopoly of the glass trade
fell later into the hands of Sir
Robert Mansel, who had many diff
ficulties to contend with, and for a
long time worked at loss, but he
did much to revive the glass indus
try, and must have been a remark
able man, being a vice-admiral Of
the fleet and having done yeoman
service. However, no specimen of
his handiwork remains with us.
The next man of note, after Til
son, who succeeded Manel, was
Greene, who imported a great deal
of glass, some of it made to his de-
sign, of which specimens are still ex-
tant. Toward the end of the seven
teenth century England made her
own glass almost entirely.
The eighteenth century glass
stands out surrounded with a halo
of romance. Societies of a secret
nature and political clubs owned
their own specially made glass, also
glasses were made to commemorate
various people and events. For in
stance, George I. glasses and a tum-
bier depicting William of Orange on
crossing the Bovne;
glasses from the Low countries in
honor of William and Mary. Speci-
mems of this period are rare and
valuable. The beauty and quality of
glass began to decline after the
century, and though mod
ern glass is very good of it's kind and
may be favorably compared with
other modern glass, yet in grace of
form and outline, as also in delicacy
Of coloring it is not the equivalent.
Of old glass.