20th Century Glass
Welcome to our website, specialising in unique and stylish mid-century glass and collectables.We are 20th Century and Art Glass collectors and have a wide selection of beautiful glass objects; but we really love the designs of Ronald Stennett-Willson and Frank Thrower.
The Ronald Stennett-Willson designs include Lemington and Kings Lynn and Wedgwood glass.
The Frank Thrower Dartington and Wedgwood designs are listed together under Frank Thrower.
For more information on Dartington and Wedgwood Glass we can reccommend Dartington Glass "The First Twenty Years - 1967 to 1987" by Linda and Stuart Smithson, and "Frank Thrower and Dartington Glass" by Eve Thrower and Mark Hill.
All our other lovely vintage pieces, from the 50s 60s 70s and 80s, including Holmegaard, Orrefors, Riihimaki, Caithness and signed art glass,Kitch, Collectables and other goodies are listed under Collectables.
We hope you find something that you like.
Not all of our stock may be on the site, so please email if you are looking for something not listed! We will be happy to ship to UK, Europe and the USA.
Should you require any information, or have any queries, please feel free to contact us - we're always happy to help.
glass.roots@sky.com
Candles at Christmas
Candles have been around for centuries and no one really knows when the candle was actually invented, we do know that candles where used by prehistoric people to make wall paintings deep inside caves. Though electricity has been with us for almost 200 years, we still cherish the humble candle. The candle continues to play an important role in many seasonal celebrations and "festivals of lights" that are part of mankind’s passage through the dark days of Winter. From the earliest Roman festivals and pagan rituals, through Europe and Africa to the Americas, candles and their humble light have been one of the key factors in the celebration of the winter holidays.Throughout history, candles have been offered as gifts and used to ward off darkness. The Roman festival of Saturnalia entailed the giving of tall tapers of wax as gifts to guests and offerings to Saturn as a symbol of his light. The Pagans also used candles during Yule festivities where candlelight and bonfires were used to symbolise the sun, bidding a farewell to the past season and a welcome to the beginning of a new seasonal cycle.
As Christianity spread, candles were placed in windows to guide the Christ Child as he wandered from house to house on Christmas Eve. In some parts of Europe, old traditions still continue especially in Sweden, where St. Lucia is still celebrated with the youngest girl in the family carrying or wearing a crown of small lit tapers to give thanks to the Queen of Light for bringing hope during the darkest time of the year. In Germany, where the decorating of Christmas trees originated, candles originally adhered to the boughs using melted wax, later they were placed in small lanterns which adorned the branches. In Ireland a single candle in the window on Christmas Eve symbolises that Mary & Joseph would be welcome in the home at Christmas and represents their difficulty finding lodgings in Bethlehem.
There is something special about the quality of candle light and what it does for the human spirit and what better way to indulge in the spirit of Christmas with candles displayed in beautiful vintage candle holders by Ronald Stennet-Willson, Frank Thrower and Timo Sarpaneva etc.
