Stourbridge Portland Vase

A project was recently  launched to create a 21st Century replica of the famous Portland Vase. The  project was the brainchild of Ian Dury of Stourbridge Glass Engravers.  The original Portland Vase was made of cameo glass and dated from about 30-20 BC.

The  ‘Stourbridge Twenty Twelve Portland Vase’ saw the team undertake a replica of one of  the most important pieces of glass in history; The Portland Vase. What made the  project even more significant as it was in celebration of 400 years of  glassmaking in Stourbridge. The project even gained the support of Dr Paul  Roberts from the British Museum.

The last person to create a replica in Stourbridge was John  Northwood back in 1874. In 1873 Northwood was approached by Phillip Pargeter,  owner of the Red House Glass Works in Wordsley, about the possibility of making  a reproduction of the famous Roman Portland Vase. Pargeter was responsible for  producing the blank with Northwood then tasked with carving the intricate  design.

All the workhas been carried out on site at Ruskin Glass Centre for visitors  to witness. The glass used was sourced from Plowden & Thompson, the Cameo  blank was then blown by the expert glass maker Richard Golding then finally the piece was engraved by renowned cameo engraver Terri Colledge.

To enjoy a short film about the project please click the following link

Stourbridge Portland Vase