Page 60 - Alan Blakeman Collection catalogue

NAILSEA
The term Nailsea describes glass with white or coloured inclusions in the base colour, often pulled or combed into swirls and patterns. The actual Nailsea Works, established by John Robert Lucas in 1788 near Bristol, probably never made it but, the claim having
being put forward many years ago, the name stuck. Types were certainly made elsewhere including in Scotlands Alloa Glass Works established in 1750 by Lady Frances Erskine.
By 1835 the Naisea Glassworks had become the fourth largest glassworks in Britain.
It is evident decorative clear glass with bright colours and stick-of-rock swirls were made by many works in the late 19th century, both in Britain and on the continent. These were regular decorative products: the idea they were ‘end of day’ pieces has no real evidence to give it credence. The pieces offered here are earlier and different - the dark green bottle glass with prominent white blobs and streaks was made by rolling molten bottle glass held on a pontil rod over granular cold, white glass bits which was then returned to the furnace and blown to expand and model the desired form.
The likely reason ordinary green bottle glass was used relates to glass taxes introduced in 1746, abolished by Sir Robert Peel’s government in 1845, on the weight and materials. Fine clear flint glass used for tableware was heavily taxed, ordinary bottle glass was rated less. Glass houses used the cheaper material giving it a decorative twist making it saleable in a more profitable market but rating less tax. The majority of the items here date before 1845 and include very rare bowls and undamaged pitchers.
In 1855 the glassworks changed hands, and again in 1862 and 1870. The gradual decline together with the failure of the local coal supply compounded to bring an end to the works finally closing in 1874. The few remnants of the site have been designated as a scheduled monument.
MAKE ME AN OFFER...
Once my digging bagan to provide a source of income (selling and swapping spares at shows) it was almost inevitable EVERY UK show became a must attend. Our trusty black Morris Traveller tootled reliably up to Scotland, down to the South coast, over
to Norfolk, down to the South West, often extending to Cornwall (to sample
delights of the sea cliffs using the newly climbing guide).
One show in the South West produced possibly my best ever bargain, so I’ll
be forever grateful to Mike Church organiser of the long since ended Clevedon
Show, held in the 1960s built Princes Hall, adjacent to the impressive Sunhill
House. I recall the very period interior with stage, and the trees as you drove
into the parking area outside.
The early hustle and bustle of those halcyon fairs saw so much fresh material.
I can still see one particular stall to this day. On the left side of his shelves
was a black glass duo - sealed onion and Nailsea jam jar. I was not the
first to ask how much, for each of them, only to be told “taking
offers.
We were all certainly a tad green behind the ears in those
days and the items remained there all day. Each time I
asked (must have been more than three or four!) he replied
exactly the same “offers!”
As we all started to pack up he was careful to leave the two
items aside. I looked up and spotted them, walked over,
and after the repetitive “offers” I just stabbed a £10 offer,
and he said yes, then unexpectedly handed me BOTH. I
smiled like a Cheshire cat driving back North up the quiet,
in those days, M5.