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In Profile: Darlington Crystal
Raise A Glass What do you get when you cross Scandinavian design and skills with a British glassware company that has a factory in rural Devon? The answer is Dartington Crystal (or Dartington Glass as it was originally known), which is currently celebrating its milestone 50th anniversary and going from strength to strength. PG&H caught up with MD Neil Hughes, commercial director Richard Halliday and head designer Hilary Green, to discover more about the company's eventful history, its award winning products and what is continuing to take the business to the next level. Dartington Crystal's origins lie in the 'marriage' between The Dartington Hall Trust, a team of young Swedish glassmakers and the outstanding talents of the charismatic Frank Thrower, designer extraordinaire, who went on to receive an MBE for his services to design and the glassware industry. What brought them together was the Dartington Hall Trust, which was looking to create employment for young locals, and, in its wisdom, decided to open a glass-making factory in the small market town of Torrington in North Devon. The Trust recruited Eskil Vilhelmsson from a Swedish glass manufacturer, who in turn recruited a team of Scandinavian glass blowers, bringing them to Torrington in 1967 to teach local youngsters their skills. The rest, as the saying goes, is glassware history - 50 years of ups and
Above: Glassmakers at work in the factory. Left: Neil Hughes, MD, and Richard Halliday, commercial director, in the Dartington showroom at Torrington. Below left: The ground breaking Sharon flute, originally created by award winning designer Frank Thrower 46 years ago, is still in the catalogue.
downs, successes and failures, and, for the past seven years, enduring stability, growth and prosperity. Driving the management team are MD Neil Hughes (who spent 20 years at Royal Worcester and joined in 2006 as operations director, subsequently being appointed Dartington's MD in 2010), commercial director Richard Halliday (who joined in 2001 from Royal Doulton) and chairman John Hammond (previously MD of Enesco in the UK). Dartington therefore remains a story of huge design talent, of specialist skills and an unwavering belief by its management that the company could and would be a success
through continuing to manufacture its crystal at the Torrington factory - although today, 50% of the glassware is manufactured in Europe, but designed at Torrington. As the company celebrates its half century, with much to look forward to, it continues to fondly remember Frank Thrower ("the George Best of the glassware industry," reveals Richard) who reputedly named many of his collections after a string of girlfriends! As a testament to his talent, given that he had never been formally trained, Sharon, designed by Frank in 1971, and named after his daughter, was chosen by the V&A for its 100 Best Ever Products exhibition. Poignantly, 2017 marks the 30th anniversary of Frank's death. "Even though he was very, very ill, he still had a sparkle in his eye, and managed to sip champagne through a straw from one of his flutes!"
Celebrating 50 Years To mark Dartington's 50th anniversary year, the company added significant new elements of made in the UK hand crafted crystal to its range featuring a new suite of drink and serve ware called Celebrate, as well as a special gold trimmed edition of its Dimple barware, originally designed by Frank Thrower. Master engraver Nick Davey also created a limited edition collection of studies inspired by tropical sealife, finished with hand gilded starfish as a subtle link to Dartington's Golden anniversary.
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