Gray-Stan

During the 1920’s Elizabeth Graydon-Stannus formerly from Ireland, ran an antique business trading in Antique Irish Glass based in central London in Earl’s Court Square and had made herself into a recognised authority on the subject.

In 1922 she decided to produce reproduction Irish glass and opened a studio , which was marketed under the name of “Gray-Stan” and made in Battersea, South London. Production that is collected nowadays broadly splits into two types. Although in addition they was also made reproduction Irish style glass wares that have caused a great deal of consternation over the years.

There was a range of wares that had a traditional feel and used a palette of clear, dark blue (cobalt), amethyst, amber and turquoise (all transparent self coloured) and opaque white. The body of a vessel would be in one colour and decorated with another, sometimes two. Often this was applied as a rim decoration, or as teardrops. Large goblet shaped vases, tall flute vases, other vase shapes and bowls, sometimes lidded, were also made. Often these pieces were not marked with the engraved script mark that was usual with much of the company’s production.

A second range of vessels produced by the firm is readily identifiable through its coloured, cloudy opaque style. Items of this type included vases, bowls, candlesticks, powder-boxes and ginger jars. Both Gray-Stan’s work from these ranges and Nazeing’s were made in the same way. Firstly, a gather was taken from the kiln, and then it was rolled into sifted white enamels before melting them into the gather by placing through the glory hole. The marver block was cleaned and the gather was rolled over the sifted colour enamels. At this stage the swirled effect would be given to the piece by using the purcellers. Finally, the whole thing would be coated with a layer of glass (the casing), blown and formed into shape. More usually pieces from these ranges were one colour with white, but two colour items were also produced.

It is sometimes difficult to tell Gray-Stan and Nazeing apart, but both companies have discernable shapes that are synonymous to each with very few that are common to both.

It is a common fallacy that all Gray-Stan is marked with an engraved script mark, either “Gray-stan, British” or “Gray-Stan”, however this is not the case, There may be a number of reasons for this, but the most likely is that work was produced for, and sold by, another company. In this case it was Elwell & Co.

In 1936 production ceased. There are a number of hearsay stories, some of which appear to have elements of truth, that throw doubt on the veracity of some of the company’s production. It is believed that pieces were made to deceive the Old Irish market. Even for the period in which Mrs Graydon-Stannus was trading it would have been difficult to source as many Old Irish items as she appeared to sell, so one’s natural scepticism is aroused. Perhaps this had some bearing on the demise of this glassmaking firm.