visitor information
The next Cambridge Glass Fair will take place at Chilford Hall Vineyard on Sunday, 26th September 2010. The fair is open from 10.30am until 4.00pm.
To view a video made at a recent fair and posted on YouTube please click here
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Postcard for 16th
Cambridge Glass Fair
featuring Whitefriars stained glass |
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Chilford Hall Vineyard is situated amid rolling countryside a few miles south east of the City of Cambridge with its colleges and lively arts scene.
The Cambridge Glass Fair is more than just that - it is an event which brings together around 100 exhibitors from across the U.K. and Europe.
Originally founded along with the respected collector and glass expert Dr. Graham Cooley, this fair offers the ideal opportunity to find both antique glass and contemporary studio work; glass from all eras and to suit all tastes. If your preference is for Georgian drinking glasses you will find many knowledgeable specialists, if you are interested in the Art Deco and Art Nouveau periods you will be amply catered for by several quality exhibitors and if you lean toward modernist collectables and art glass you will be spoilt for choice.
At the Cambridge Glass Fair we continually endeavour to improve the visitors’ experience. We were the first one-day fair to introduce regular exhibitions presenting both loan collections and previously overlooked areas of glass to our visitors.
Our promotional postcards were another real innovation and have become collectors’ items in their own right.
We have offered visitors the opportunity to meet some well-known personalities including Eric Knowles, Sam Herman, Andy McConnell and Mark Hill and we have hosted several book launches and selling exhibitions. The Stained Glass Museum from Ely cathedral are also regular exhibitors.
The venue itself has much to offer with a very pleasing ambience and with various pieces of artwork displayed around the halls and grounds. It also offers free parking for up to 1000 vehicles. There is an excellent bistro and bar within the halls and the Vineleaf café is located nearby. At lunchtime there is live music in the restaurant area which adds to the occasion.
We have updated our exhibition archive pages and all of the previous foyer exhibitions have now been reinstated. We hope that you will enjoy looking at them and at the 'exhibitor interview' pages where some of our regular exhibitors give an insight into their interest in the world of glass dealing and collecting.
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| Ariel vase by Ernest Gordon for Afors |
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The foyer exhibition for February featured a private collection of pieces by the British designer Ernest Gordon. These were produced for the Swedish manufacturer Afors during the 1950s and 60s.
There was around sixty pieces on display and they included examples of various disciplines, such as cutting and graal work.
This was the first time such a comprehensive collection of Ernest Gordon's work had been exhibited.
In the Contemporary Hall, stained glass artist Ann Benwell demonstrated the art of making Tiffany-style glass and visitors were able to try their hand at this and maybe take home something they had made themselves.
You were able to see and buy studio glass from over twenty contemporary makers and engravers who were also happy to discuss commissions.
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| 'Strands', a wall hanging by Ivan Lambrov |
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Ivan Lambrov, a glass artist from Bulgaria, was among those exhibiting for the first time at the fair, as was Frances Federer, who specialises in gilding.
Among the other skilled glass makers in the Contemporary Hall was Tolly Nason, a glass artist and photographer from nearby Abington who recently had a stunning exhibition on display in the Zoological Museum in Cambridge.
'Seeing the Light: Finch by Finch' was part of the Charles Darwin Anniversary Festival and featured fourteen cast Galapagos Island finch beaks.
She exhibited some of her cast and pâte de verre pieces, such as the intriguing and desirable 'Whimsicals'. Methods such as pâte de verre allow Tolly to extract and express the beauty of glass in its very fragile state, forming a ‘crust’ or exoskeleton of what could be there - an artwork that has shed its skin and is left exposed, raw and beautiful.
She also designed the February fair postcard (see postcard archive).
Primavera, the well-known central Cambridge fine arts and crafts gallery, also exhibit at the fair regularly and always bring along some new and special pieces by leading glass artists, this time including some by Catherine Hough.
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| A collection of Victorian dumps
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For paperweight enthusiasts, the Paperweight Collectors Circle once again held an ‘Identification Clinic’. You are able to bring along any weights or
related items you have questions about or just wish to discuss. This is an excellent opportunity to find out about weights you have tucked away at home that you may have bought, inherited or perhaps received as gifts.
A new lavishly illustrated and informative book, 'Victorian Dumps, Paperweights, Mantel Ornaments, Doorstops and Whimsies - 1820-1914', has been written by Peter Sellers and he was signing copies in the foyer at a specially discounted price of £35.
A special exhibition of glass-related postage stamps was also staged in the foyer by a member of the Cambridge Philatelic Society.
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| American stamp featured in the exhibition |
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A keen stamp collector for many years, he was pleased to discuss the display with interested visitors.
Representatives from Whitefriars.com, the website dedicated to Whitefriars glass and its many enthusiastic collectors, have a special stand in the Great Hall where this time they staged an exhibition of pieces in the stunning Sky Blue colourway. Details of all of their previous exhibitions can be found by clicking on 'Whitefriars.com' on the menu bar.
The pieces were drawn from the collections of some of the forum members who were also at the fair and who were delighted to meet other collectors and to answer questions etc.
The Glass Association attend the fair and were, as always, pleased to talk about their work and to welcome new members where appropriate. Also attending were the Contemporary Glass Society and the Guild of Glass Engravers.
We are delighted to announce that Ms Karen Shellard is the winner of the February 2010 Visitor Survey prize, a £50 voucher to be spent at the September 2010 fair. The 2011 survey will be available at the February fair and the winner will be announced in May.
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| A collection of Whitefriars Sky Blue knobblies |
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We will continue to innovate and to develop the fair, and to that end we have lots of good things in store. Come along and join us on September 26th - maybe combine your visit with a trip into Cambridge or even make a weekend of it.
For those of you travelling by public transport we have listed some local taxi firms and are happy to put visitors in touch with each other if they wish to share the fare. If you would like further information please click here.
If glass is your passion, we at the Cambridge Glass Fair will ensure that you can indulge it to the full and have a wonderful time.
If you are unable to visit the Cambridge Glass Fair you may like to know that we also organise REFLECT 2010 The London Glass Fair taking place on Sunday June 13th and the National Glass Collectors Fair which will take place on Sunday November 14th 2010.
A memorial to Dan Klein
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| Dan Klein |
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With the sudden and sad death of Dan, the glass world has lost its most
distinguished proponent and strongest advocate. His influence has touched
every glass maker, curator, gallery owner, collector and enthusiast around the
world. His passion for glass has inspired us all; he was the most knowledgeable,
generous, encouraging and kind mentor.
In 1995 Dan played a key role in the founding of North
Lands Creative Glass at Lybster in the north of Scotland
and at his death was a Director of North Lands and the
Chairman of its Advisory Board. It has been decided to
establish a fund in Dan's memory to develop the work
of North Lands both in education and in the provision of
further state-of-the-art studio space.
Leaflets to make a donation can be
collected from the Foyer at the fair.
To read about the campaign to save Broadfield House Museum click here.
Mailing List Form
If you would like to be kept updated with news about
our Future Fairs and glass-related events please fill out the
'Mailing List Form' below.
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