Manufacturer · United Kingdom · London · c. 1680–1980
Whitefriars
Whitefriars (c. 1680–1980) – London glassworks, run by James Powell and his successors from 1834, known for Geoffrey Baxter’s Textured series.
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About the manufacturer
- Years active
- c. 1680–1980
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Location
- London
The origins of the glassworks in the Fleet Street area of London date back to around 1680. In 1834, the works were bought by James Powell, and from 1919 operated as Powell & Sons (Whitefriars) Ltd. In 1952, it was taken over by GH Zeal Ltd, and in 1962 the name was changed to Whitefriars Glass Ltd.
In 1954, Royal College of Art graduate Geoffrey Baxter joined the glassworks, where he worked until production ended. In 1967, his Textured series was introduced – soda-lime glass blown in moulds using, among other things, bark and nails. The products were marked with a small image of a hooded monk (friar); the “PF” mark refers to the work of Pierre Fourmaintraux.
Production ended in 1980 due to labour costs and economic difficulties; in 1981, Caithness Glass was granted a 25-year licence to use the Whitefriars name. The company’s archives are held by the Museum of London (documents), the Archive of Art & Design at the Victoria and Albert Museum (designs), and the Rakow Library at the Corning Museum of Glass (around 1800 boxes).
