Author - Robert Leigh

Stuart Crystal Glasses

Lead crystal is popular with collectors as well as connoisseurs of fine eating and drinking. The distinct qualities of this material make it the ideal choice. Despite the widely available cheaper glasses on the general market, lead glass, and especially Stuart Crystal, offers a higher quality of glassware. Lead glass is created using lead oxide in place of the calcium that is found in a normal glassware compound. This chemical construction ensures a higher clarity which refracts light beautifully, and it has a reassuringly heavy weight when held in the hand.

For the discerning customer, the Stuart Crystal era is synonymous with good quality glassware. This name refers to the work of the influential Frederick Stuart, a pioneer of the Industrial Revolution. As an orphan, and aged only eleven years old, in 1827 he was sent to work in a glasswork located on the Crystal Mile in Stourbridge. Located a few miles to the west of Birmingham, in the Midlands of Britain, this area was home to a number of glass manufacturers including some of the most famous names in British crystal.

Whilst working amongst the smoky factories and growing urban surroundings, young Frederick learned the secrets of this craft. He showed his business skills when, after two and a half decades of work, in 1853, he was ready to establish his own business. Along with his business partners, Richard Mills and Edward Webb, he founded Mills, Webb & Stuart. This company rapidly gained renown for making high quality designs that were sought after by discerning customers.

Stuart Crystal Glassware

His business acumen did not stop there, and by the time of his retirement, aged 82, the business was entirely run by Frederick and his sons, with the result that it became known simply as Stuart Crystal. Subsequent generations of the family took the business to new heights, so much so that by 1936 the company was producing too much to stay in the existing building. They purchased the factory next door and used the previous building for storage and, later still, as a museum. During this period of growth, their craftsmen created many notable designs, including their Medallion Cameo Glass in 1887 and the still-used Beaconsfield Pattern in 1907. They also created ranges of Art Nouveau designs and novelty designs.

Sadly, the business no longer manufactures glass. In 1995, they were bought by Waterford Wedgewood, but despite this sounding like an ideal match which would give new strength to the veteran company, it was not to be. After only six years, in 2001, they closed the factory, ending 148 years of industry and creativity.

Stuart Crystal glasses and other designs remain popular with collectors, and in fact they can rightly be considered a piece of British history, to be prized and cared for. If you are fortunate enough to own pieces from the Stuart Crystal glass collections, such as Stuart Crystal decanters, take care of it because it is a piece of British craftsmanship that will never again be manufactured.

At Crystal Glass Replacement, we specialise in providing replacements and new pieces for many different ranges, including Stuart Crystal glassware. Whether you need Stuart Crystal tumblers, Stuart Crystal wine glasses or something else entirely, visit our online store or speak to our team. We can supply replacements and new pieces for a wide range of designs.

If you love crystal glassware like we do, then you will know the name ‘Royal Brierley’.  This company represents a key part of the long legacy of classic crystal glassware, and with good reason.  Not only are they known for the exceptionally high quality of Royal Brierley crystal, but they can also claim one of the longest histories in British glasswork.

Incredibly, the origins of the company go back about two and a half centuries to the year 1776.  That might not initially sound impressive but think about it in context.  1776 was the year that the Declaration of Independence was signed, making the USA into an independent company.  The Royal Brierley company is as old as the USA!  1776 was also early in the Industrial Revolution, before the development of the railway network and before the development of mass produced steel!  It predates the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, which would begin almost a decade later, and was more than fifty years before middle class men would win the vote.

The Royal Brierley Glass company was not always known by that name.  They operated under various titles through the subsequent 250 years, such as Silvers, Mills and Stevens, and the Stevens and Williams Glassworks.  The name Royal Brierley Crystal was adopted in 1931, following a visit by the Duke and Duchess of York to the factory.  The company briefly closed in in 2000 but was soon reopened as a part of Dartington Crystal.

Despite the changes in ownership and name over the years, one thing has remained consistent – the reputation for quality.  The company has long had a reputation for precision manufacturing, as well as superior quality crystal glass.  The focus on quality workmanship probably stems from the context of the company’s founding.  In the 1700s, the British government placed a high tax on lead crystal glass.

Since this tax was calculated on the basis of weight, manufacturers like Royal Brierley found it beneficial to focus on delicate and intricate work which used smaller pieces, like glasses and decanters, rather than reducing the lead in the crystal which would have reduced the finished quality.  This pattern for making finely formed crystalware, as well as coloured glass, has remained at the centre of the Royal Brierley crystal glass collection.  It is not really a surprise that they became the suppliers of glassware to the Royal Family in 1919, with a royal warrant given by King George V and more recently renewed by Charles, Prince of Wales.

If you are looking for glassware, either for yourself or as a great gift for a special occasion, Royal Brierley could be exactly what you need.  Why not treat yourself or a friend to some Royal Brierley crystal glasses or a Royal Brierley crystal decanter?

At Crystal Glass Replacements, we stock a wide range of Royal Brierley pieces in our online shop.  Whether you want an individual piece as a replacement or a full set, get in touch to see how we can provide the right pieces for your collection.

History and tradition are a big part of what we do here at Stag House Replacements., and few of the items we come across have as much of either as Baccarat Champagne glasses.

When people reflect on their own histories, and those of their families, they may turn to keepsakes and heirlooms to focus the mind and make the experience tangible.  But when we invest so much sentiment in an object, not just any item will do.  Certainly, a mass-produced or tasteless product would not well represent the mood we are trying to create.

Instead, the treasured mementos and inheritances which are shared within families are usually meaningful items, which were hand-crafted with care and have been cherished ever since.  When we handle articles of quality which were used and valued by our parents and grandparents, we gain an insight into their lifestyles, their values, their world.  These objects need not be large, complex, or exotic; things as mundane as tableware can form our most powerful connections with the past.  Indeed, in contrast with purely financial assets, crystal glassware would have been displayed and used in the family home, and therefore carries far more memories than even the most valuable antique which has been locked away in a bank vault.

Such items have unique stories to tell, and the language of those stories is strongly influenced by where and when the pieces were produced.  For example, a pair of Scottish whisky glasses locked away in the top drawer of a writing desk tell a very different story to a set of French Champagne flutes proudly displayed in an antique oak drinks cabinet.  And when such glasses are the products of a famous and respected manufacturer of luxury goods, the story becomes still more fascinating.  Understandably then, when customers come to us for help in completing collections of vintage Baccarat Champagne flutes, it is often as much a quest to achieve sentimental closure as it is to complete a set of historic and valuable antiques.

More than that, the history and cultural context of the company, movement, or area which produced the artifact inevitable has a bearing on its sentimental meaning.  A set of Baccarat crystal Champagne flutes is more than just a valuable possession, it is a statement about the tastes and identity of the owners at the time it was acquired.  For over 250 years, this famous French crystal company have honed the art of producing beautiful and desirable luxury homewares and gifts.  Never have they allowed their products to become commonplace, or ordinary, which is why sets and individual items from all time periods are so collectible now.  Here at Stag House Replacements, we consider it a privilege to deal in such items which have meant so much to so many people.

These days, all Baccarat master craftsmen train for 15 years to acquire absolutely unimpeachable skills in the production of fine tableware, and to ensure that modern Baccarat Crystal Champagne Glasses are just as flawless and desirable as those from centuries ago.  Contact us if you need a replacement Baccarat Crystal Champagne Glass to complete your collection.

At Crystal Glass Replacements, we are overjoyed to offer our customers a wide selection of crystal glassware from a range of specialist brands, steeped in history. Our collection includes rare and unique products that could otherwise be difficult to source. Our crystal products are not only limited to drinking glasses, but also includes a plethora of other, including items such as vases and decanters. Whilst our products are premium in terms of quality, not only are they ideal for a multitude of special occasions from important anniversaries to family celebrations, but you can also use them for a spot of everyday luxury. Today the spotlight turns to our range of Thomas Webb crystal glassware.

The Thomas Webb Legacy

Thomas Webb was founded almost two centuries ago, in 1837, with Webb making a name for himself as the ‘Crystal Kind of England’. This mighty reputation eventually earned the company a Grand Prix award and a global standing. The crystalware from Thomas Webb has been exhibited in Paris as part of the Tiffany & Co. exhibit. At the height of their fame, in 1889, they acquired a patent for their glassmaking process in America. The most exquisite pieces of glassware were signed with ‘GEM CAMEO’ on the mark. Alluding to the cameo engraved gem, this type of glass is actually more precious that natural gemstone cameos due to their rarity and fragility.

Thomas Webb at Crystal Glass Replacements

Here at Crystal Glass Replacements, most of our Thomas Webb product range is made up of drinking glasses. Each and every design is distinctive yet distinguishable as belonging to this exceptional brand. The range includes glasses for wine, hock, gin and tonic, liqueur, champagne, whiskey, and port. Each pattern corresponds to a particular name, including Cheltenham, Gothic, London, Normandy, Romeo, Yacht, Russell, Andrews, Warwick, Wellington, and Beverley. We also currently have in stock a unique art deco martini glass, a square-shaped whiskey decanter in the Cheltenham style, and a trumpet vase in the Gothic style.

Replacement Crystal Products

When browsing our collection of Thomas Webb crystal glassware, you will notice how rare and exquisite the range is on our website. As experts in replacements, we understand that accidents happen from time to time, so if you ever have the misfortune of finding a breakage, we will try our best to salvage it. When you provide us with the details of a missing piece in your collection, we have various collectors and contacts that can help to find you a suitable replacement glass to keep your glassware collection complete. Keep in contact with us and you can be rest assured with the knowledge that even if the worst happens, you can make use of your Thomas Webb glasses without fear of breakages.

Contact Us

To discover more about our Thomas Webb Crystal Glass products or any others, please feel free to get in touch with us through our web contact form, or by email at stag-house-replacements@outlook.com. Alternatively, you can call us directly on either 07487769598 or 01708765451 to speak to a member of our team directly. We will be happy to help you with any queries you may have for us.

Here at Stag House Replacements, we offer a range of crystal glass products from various names. Today we will focus on those from St Louis Crystal, renowned as the oldest glass manufacture in France. Read on to find out more about the history of these crystal glass makers, the company today and what St Louis products we can offer you.

The History of St Louis Crystal

Founded in 1767, St Louis (or, in French, Compagnie des Cristalleries de Saint Louis), has roots that date back to 1586. Not only is the company the first glass manufacturer in France, but it also holds the title of being the first crystal glass manufacturer in the whole of continental Europe. You can find out more about the iconic brand in the production halls of the factory itself, where its museum is located, exhibiting four centuries of its technical development and artistic creations. Initially focussed on making luxury and high-quality goods, it was in the 1800s that the manufacturer also operated in the field of medium-range goods of a lower quality to be affordable to the masses.

St Louis Crystal Today

The St Louis brand has stood the test of time, still operating today with modern creations that carry forward its classic style. Whilst the company has seen it through difficult times, affected by economic crises and becoming nationalised, it has since been re-privatised from 1987 and products today have also been expanded into engineered materials such as abrasives and ceramics. The company now has factories internationally, increasing their distribution. With many artists having worked with the brand, it has become known for its blend of tradition and innovation, which is perhaps why it has been able to last just so many years.

St Louis Crystal at Stag House Replacements

At Stag House replacements, we currently stock four sought-after St Louis Crystal glasses. This includes two types of the Chantilly champagne flutes, both in excellent condition, with one also signed ‘St Louis Cristal France’ underneath. We also stock a Chantilly glass which is designed for drinking sherry or port. Finally, we offer a St Louis Crystal Chantilly wine glass. Both these options are also signed at the base. If you’re looking for a specific St Louis product that is not listed, whether a St Louis decanter or an alternate pattern, please follow our contact details listed below and we can look into whether we can source the item for you. The products themselves are considered to merge the talent inherited from its past incarnations with the creative fantasy evoked by contemporary trends.

Contact Us

Here at Stag House Replacements, we offer our customers a choice of over 4000 crystal items, which are acquired from various dealers, collectors, and specialist contacts and brought to you. Our extensive collections are available to browse online, but if you are searching for a specific product, feel free in touch with us. If you would like our assistance, just complete our web contact form, or call us on either 07487769598 or 01708765451. We will be happy to help you with any questions you may have for us.

As one of the most respected and collectible crystal glass product brands in the world, Waterford Crystal has a long and eventful history which only adds to the attraction and mystique of the name.  Beginning in 1783, expert craftsmen in the Irish city of Waterford began producing luxury glass items with unique characteristics.  Since then, Waterford Crystal glasses and other tableware, along with a wide variety of other fine glass products, have become some of the most sought-after items of their type in the world of antiques and fine crafts.

Naming the company after the city from which they originated, rather than after a particular artisan or business leader, was an early masterstroke as it gave the new company an identity which would stand the test of time.  While memories of individuals may fade, naming the brand for Ireland’s longest-established city spoke of pride and permanence, and the fact that the factory was situated just minutes from what was then one of Europe’s great seaports could only have enhanced its prospects internationally.  Of course, no amount of clever marketing would have compensated for a substandard product, but Waterford Crystal wine glasses and other items have always compared favourably with the finest other brands from around the world.  Although the brand was inactive for many decades after financial difficulties forced the company’s closure, the heritage remained and Waterford Crystal was later revived to thrive in its home city once again.

A few years ago, a widely published documentary provided a glimpse into the world of the modern Waterford Crystal company.  Weight, softness and clarity were three qualities which distinguished antique Waterford Crystal champagne flutes and other glasses, and it was reported that the current factory had installed computer controlled mixing equipment to create just the right blend of potash, red oxide, sand, and ground glass to continue that tradition.  The mixture was melted in a furnace at over 1300 degrees, before master glass blowers would mould Waterford Crystal port glasses, wine glasses, and other products using wooden moulds which were also made in-house.

Possibly the most distinctive single quality of Waterford glasses and tableware is the depth of the decorative cutting.  It is the softness of the uniquely formulated glass, together with the thickness of the blowing, which allows Waterford wine glasses to be decorated in such a magnificent way. Glass which is cut using Waterford Crystal patterns will refract light to an extreme degree, and as anyone lucky enough to have their own Waterford Crystal glass collection will know, a dining table laden with such exquisite articles makes for a stunning sight.  It takes five years as an apprentice to become a master glass cutter, at the end of which each trainee must cut a specially designed Waterford Crystal decanter which features every type of cut they will be required to perform in the trade, to prove their skill.  The new master then keeps this Waterford decanter as proof of their accomplishment.

Raise your Waterford Crystal champagne glasses to this fine company!  Contact Crystal Glass Replacements to buy genuine Waterford champagne flutes and other products.

Named after the Scottish capital city itself, Edinburgh Crystal is an iconic crystal glass company, easily recognisable and steeped in history, being over one hundred and fifty years old. Today we’re going to look at this history, along with what makes the brand stand out and how it stands today, as well as how you can get your hands on some original Edinburgh Crystal.

The Beginning of Edinburgh Crystal

It was during the 19^th century that we began to see the formation of commercial glass companies. What we now know as Edinburgh Crystal was founded in 1867 as the Edinburgh and Leith Flint Glass Company. Throughout its time, it was bought and sold to various other glass companies, and it was in 1955 that it began to be known simply as The Edinburgh Crystal Glass Company. It continued to change hands, and in May 2006 the offices and warehouse suffered from a tragic fire. A few months later, it went into administration, and in 2007, the company was bought by Waterford Wedgewood, though it suffered the same fate in 2009. After these years existing as just a brand name, Edinburgh Crystal was then discontinued.

Edinburgh Crystal Today

Despite Edinburgh Crystal being discontinued, you can still buy your own piece of history. In the more contemporary years, there were design collaborations between the company and Wolverhampton University and Edinburgh College if Art. Students were able to gain great experience, whilst also giving fresh blood to the company, bringing innovative design ideas. For some time, there was also a visitor centre, which brought hundreds of thousands of people each year, offering them the opportunity to see the glassware being made, and speak to the Master Craftspeople. Although this time has now ended, this makes items of Edinburgh Crystal all the more precious and rarer.

Stag House Replacements

Here at Stag House Replacements, we have a great range of different types of drinking glasses from Edinburgh Crystal, as well as fruit bowls, jugs, and decanters. Within this extensive range, we stock a number of items as part of the collectable ‘Connoisseur Collection’. This includes ‘The Start of Edinburgh’, where stars burst out in an attractive pattern, carved into the glass, and ‘Thistle’, whereby the tops are shaped in a thistle theme, with a stippled body. Furthermore, two of these collectables include ‘Kind James’, which is recognisable from its long stems and neck, and ‘Lochnagar’, known by its swirling pattern and dating back to the reign of Queen Victoria. From whisky glasses to wine glasses, and everything in between, you’re sure to find something to suit you.

Contact Us

At Stag House Replacements, we have over 4000 crystal items, which are sourced from various dealers, collectors, and specialist contacts and brought to you. Our wide-reaching collections are available to browse online, but if you are looking for a particular product, you are welcome to get in touch with us. If you would like our help, just complete our web contact form, or call us on either 07487769598 or 01708765451. We will be glad to assist you with any queries you may have for us.