Cumbria Crystal is the last producer of completely hand-blown and hand-cut, full-lead English crystal in the United Kingdom.
Using only traditional glassmaking processes, the small team of 22 highly skilled artisans are committed to making superb crystal of the highest quality, using techniques and processes that have hardly changed since the Roman era. In the year of its 40th anniversary, the company is looking to add to that exclusive team, and is offering the following two positions:
Senior Glassblower: to support the Master Glass Blower to effectively manage the glassblowing teams to ensure the efficient production of high quality hand-blown crystal.
Glass Cutter: responsible for the specialist cutting of crystal using a variety of techniques and tools to produce the highest quality products.
Company overview
Set in Ulverston, a small town in the beautiful English Lake District, visitors are welcome to watch the choreographed alchemy of glass blowing, browse the Factory Shop and on occasion even try making some glass themselves.
Unlike the majority of crystal manufacturers Cumbria Crystal specialises in working with lead crystal. The benefits of lead crystal – the increased refractive index promoting brilliant sparkle in the cut and a reassuring weight in the hand, outweigh the additional complexities associated with the manufacture and ensure a superior product exuding character and uniqueness. Cumbria Crystal epitomises the best of British glass manufacture. Our glassmaking heritage and use of traditional techniques mean that every aspect of the creative process is done by hand in the factory. All the crystal is completely mouth blown by our team of five glass blowers and hand cut on diamond wheels. The cutting process demands intense concentration and skill and is carried out by either Robert or Jitka. A typical Grasmere wine goblet can easily take 45-60 minutes to cut with the slightest loss of concentration resulting in the abandonment or downgrading of the piece.
Raw materials arrive in the factory as a prepared sand and leave as a finished product – It is melted, blown, processed, marked, diamond cut, polished, inspected at least 5 times and passes through 12 pairs of skilled hands during the creative process. Nothing is subcontracted or produced anywhere else.
It is therefore hardly surprising Cumbria Crystal it is the crystal of choice for British Embassies, many Royal Families and Luxury Stores worldwide and has been featured extensively in Downton Abbey, James Bond and numerous period dramas including Poldark.
The company was established 40 years ago by Lord and Lady Cavendish of Holker Hall, Cumbria and was created, initially to preserve traditional British crafts, after a dinner party in 1976 during which the conversation revolved round the subject of the decline of the British glassmaking heritage. Lady Cavendish also designed the Grasmere Collection which remains the most iconic of the collections to this day. A close relationship with the Cavendish family and the Holker Estate continues to this day.
Over the past few years the Lyre, Six, Regency and Sabre Collections were developed by Katy Holford which brought customers subtle, yet contemporary, choice.
In September 2017 three much more contemporary Collections were launched to attract customers who might not traditionally purchase cut crystal, but demand exceptional craftsmanship and design. Peter Ting, whose name is synonymous with luxury goods, developed Boogie Woogie and Dr. Jessamy Kelly, a lecturer in glass at Edinburgh University and designer for Edinburgh Crystal for five years, Loop and Palm.
As well as the supply and manufacture of the core bar and stemware Collections, of which there are currently ten, Cumbria Crystal has worked closely on the development and manufacture of bespoke products for luxury retailers, distillers and individuals including – David Linley, Asprey, Bentley, Spey Distillers, Goviers, Christopher Jenner, Lee Broom, Glyndebourne & Hamilton & Inches.
The flexible nature of the hand-making processes and the versatility of the workforce enable the company to undertake high-quality bespoke production for private individuals.
In March 2015 Chris Blade MA (RCA) was appointed Managing Director. Under his direction the company has developed new products, initiatives and strategic alliances to help secure the heritage of luxury English glassmaking over the coming years. Two 600kg Falorni furnaces were purchased with support through ERDF and in 2016 an Innovus development grant was won enabling the commissioning of a new furnace for a research project and to expand the company’s capabilities to include colour and offer visitors the opportunity to try glassblowing.
In 2016/17 the company intends to extend its brand into new markets including Japan, China and North America.
For further information or to express interest in either position, please contact Managing Director Chris Blade on chris.blade@cumbriacrystal.com.