Thomas Webb entered the glass industry in 1829 and became a partner in the Wordsley glassworks of Webb and Richardsons. In 1833, his father, John Webb, also entered the glass industry in partnership with John Shepherd at the neighbouring White House Glassworks, but in 1835 John Webb died and Thomas succeeded to his father’s share in the Shepherd and Webb business. In 1840 Thomas Webb moved to the Platts, Amblecote, very near to the Dennis estate and started “Thomas Webb’s Glassworks”. The Dennis Glassworks became highly successful, and in which at least four of his sons eventually became involved.
Thomas Webb died in 1869 at the age of 65 and was succeeded by his son, Thomas Wilkes Webb, then aged 32, under whose astute leadership the company’s fortunes prospered to such an extent that the name of Thomas Webb became known throughout the world. His energy and enterprise secured new business and brought to Dennis Glassworks some of Europe’s finest craftsmen. During this period fine crystal and coloured glass was made, including Cameo and “Rock Crystal”.
In 1878 and 1889, Webb & Sons exhibited at the great Paris International Exhibitions where they competed against glassware from many countries, winning the Grand Prix on each occasion and the accolade in the 1878 exhibition’s illustrated catalogue that “Messrs. Thomas Webb & Co. of Stourbridge are the best makers of glass in the world”. In recognition of his contribution to these exhibitions, Thomas Webb was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, an award the French seldom give to a foreigner. He died in 1891 at the early age of 54.
The firm had become a public limited company in 1886, and remained under family control on the Board of Directors until the year 1919, when the last male member of the family, Walter Wilkes Webb, died at the age of 75. During the First World War the output was limited to plain glass-ware and light bulbs, and in the Second, the company made industrial glass for radar, X-ray machines, and later television. After the War the demand for expensive and richly cut glass diminished, and the economic situation was difficult.
In 1964 the company was bought by the Crown House Group, and in 1971 merged with Dema Glass Ltd, the principal table glassware subsidiary of the group, and some modernisation of the works and investment in new equipment undertaken, but the glassworks closed its doors in 1990 due to the collapse of the parent company.
Thomas Webb and Sons Videos
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Three Colour Cameo Vase, ca. 1890
The ovoid form of similar citron tint to the above large example, with a slender waisted neck and flared rim, encased in ruby and opaque white,...[read more]
Three and Four Colour Cameo Vases, ca. 1885
The slender tapering form with everted neck, the first of citron, and the second of opaque white overlaid in clear turquoise, both vases then...[read more]
Optic Ribbed Vases ca. 1935 – 1949
Another direct imitation, this time of Whitefriars’ Wave Ribbed Tumbler vases, but with a square, rather than hexagonal...[read more]
Sapphire Blue Flared Bowl ca. 1930
Webbs echoed Whitefriars style and patterns extensively during the inter-War period, and Barnaby Powell might well have felt aggrieved that his...[read more]
Ovoid vase, ca. 1930
The footed ovoid form was much more typical of the Webb’s house style during the inter-war years, and the controlled detail of the air bubble...[read more]
Fluted Ovoid Vase, ca. 1930
The fluted ovoid form is not common in Webb’s output, and the unusual internal amethyst spiral trail over a bubble ground, again points to this...[read more]
Cameo Fleur Vase, ca 1930.
In the 1930s Webbs developed their ‘Cameo Fleur’ range of cased glass, deeply martele cut over an acid etched craquelure clear ground. Usually...[read more]
Vaseline Glass Jug, ca. 1900
Another rare example of Art Nouveau style, this time in Vaseline glass, with spiral decoration and an applied handle in clear glass. The body of the...[read more]
Filamentosa Vase ca. 1900
A rare example of Webb’s Art Nouveau style, which formed a small part of their output. [read more]
Finger Bowl and Dish, ca.1900
Both dish and bowl are moulded with ‘wrythen’ optic ribbing with ground and polished pontils. The hand-gilding is in high relief for the roses,...[read more]
Cameo Scent Bottle, 1895
Of tear-drop form, cased in opal over citron, with a flowering bough design, these scent bottles in various shapes were enormously popular at the...[read more]
Cameo Vase and Bowl, ca. 1880
Cased in opal over ruby, the vase is cut with a pattern of flowering poppies and grasses, surrounded by butterflies and moths, while the bowl has a...[read more]
Iris Glass Vases, ca. 1880s
This iridescent glass was patented by Thomas Wilkes Webb and exhibited at the Paris Exhibition of 1878. The Birmingham Daily Gazette said of it,...[read more]
Ivory Vase, late 19th. cent
The ivory coloured body of the vase features hand-applied two-tone gilt floral decoration, with the tell-tale butterly decoration of the jules Barbe...[read more]
Peach Blow Vase ca. late 19th. century
A fine example of hand-applied floral decoration in gold and silver. [read more]
Queens Burmese Vase ca. 1887
with hand-enamelled decoration from the studio of Jules Barbé, with a particularly clear example of Webb’s acid-etched mark on the base, and the...[read more]
Bronze Glass Vases, ca. 1880
These museum-quality examples of glass inspired by ancient naturally iridised glassware, were produced using classical shapes on an applied base. The...[read more]
Acid Matted Vase ca. 1880
A superb example showing Webbs at the height of their powers, and the quality which won them recognition at the Paris Exhibitions. Cased yellow over...[read more]
