The Wished For
Sir Laurence Whistler, CBE (1912 - 2000)
Category
Glass
Date
1969
Materials
Glass
Measurements
240 mm (Height); 87 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Greys Court, Oxfordshire
NT 195631
Summary
Ceremonial tulip shaped glass goblet, engraved with a scene entitled 'The Wished For' by Laurence Whistler, and set within a wooden lit display case, displayed in F/39. Dates from 1969.
Full description
Ceremonial tulip shaped glass goblet, engraved with a scene entitled 'The Wished For' by Laurence Whistler, and set within a wooden lit display case, displayed in F/39. Dates from 1969. The goblet is of Whistler's own design (tulip shaped with baluster stem). Laurence's Interest in symbolism is represented in the image. Design depicts a shaft of light flatting from an evening sky, holding for a moment the Grail: here given a wider significance than that of the sacred legend and meant as a symbol of all that is seriously or passionately desired. Merging forms in not wholly real landscape. Theme was a suggested to the artist by an effect of light over the Kenmare river, seen from near the top of the Healey pass in Kerry. Created in 1969 (as engraved on reverse). Formerly owned by Laurence Irving. Signed LW on base. Most goblet designs are made by literally drawing on the glass with a steel or diamond point tool like a pencil. mainly very small dots applied at speed by a vibrating hand, with less pressure than a pencil on paper. Many dots give a more subtle effect than line engraving, the image's range of tone depending on how closely placed the dots are to one another. Would be called stippling if dots didn't merge into longer marks and lines. All of Whistler's first six goblet designs were made of him by Whitefriars Glass Ltd. In general he preferred old goblets for their shape. The image engraved must be specifically designed with an individual goblet's curvature in mind, in order for the proportions and perspective of the image to be effective. The artist told of the importance of direct light to reveal the full effect of an image etched in glass.
Provenance
Assigned to the National Trust from the Estate of Lady Elizabeth Brunner, 2022.
Marks and inscriptions
Base: 'The Wished For' and 'LW' with design etched onto base.
Makers and roles
Sir Laurence Whistler, CBE (1912 - 2000), glass engraver