Nigel Benson is a knowledgable and respected dealer, published author
and collector, who set up his dealership as 20th Century Glass in June 1986, having been a collector of glass for some eleven
years before. Details of publications and articles he has been involved in writing or consulting on can also be found using
the menu bar on the left.
In addition to acting as glass specialist to a terrestially based internet auction house, working as 20th Century Glass,
Nigel Benson also provides consultancy for publications as well as articles and ideas for many leading antique magazines.
He also gives lectures on many aspects of collecting glass, mainly connected with his passion, British glass but also
on continental and Scandinavian glass mainly from the post war era.
The website has currently been
designed as an information site to both help and stimulate visitors as well as to act as a shop window for our business
of buying and selling quality glass. If you collect, or are interested in, any of the manufacturers or designers
shown, or mentioned, on these pages please do not hestitate to get in touch with us - see the underlined 'email'
buttons located at the bottom of every page or below the illustration blocks on the right, thanks.
For more about Nigel, his beginnings as a collector
and dealer and his thoughts on collecting, please see
Nigel Benson exhibits his glass , under the name 20th Century Glass, at all the major glass fairs
held in the UK and deals directly with both private collectors and many museums.
We are always pleased to purchase items,
or collections, but regret we cannot give valuations or opinions over the internet.
*****IMPORTANT NEWS*****
BROADFIELD
HOUSE GLASS MUSEUM
Despite 'promises'
by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council that there would be a stay of execution on Broadfield House Glass Museum,
with an intention of creating a world class site it has become clear that this is totally a matter of interpretation
as to what is considered to be "a world class site".
The point about interpretation was made crystal clear by councillors and officers at a meeting between
them and the representatives of the protest groups in December 2009. It means that they can put different meanings to
propasls than is believed on first reading; or, that they will take something in a different way that is meant by the
originator. In short, 'spin'.
This gives rise to serious concern about the future of BHGM, particularly
given the council's choice in Stage 2 of the Feasibility Study is Option 'B'. This effectively means that a portion
of the collections will be put on display only on the first floor of the Red House Cone site with much of the rest
of the site given over to education - including the recent purchase of the old Stuart's Shop. The education
referred to is with local schools, which, whilst laudible, does little to persuade that DMBC are being inclusive of the glass
world, collectors and historians. There is a small space indicated for temporary exhibitions on the ground floor.
In effect this will mean a downgrading of the museum and its facilities. In all probability it will mean a moribund
museum, with no room to expand, little ability to change the perminant exhibition regularly because of the reduction of staff,
and no ability to buy new exhibits - or, if bought, nowhere to show them.
It is now essential
that anyone who is interested in the future of the collections and archives held by, and associated with, BHGM get together
and support campaigners in their aim of achieving a facility that is truely worthy of the world class reputation that BHGM
has achieved.
Our joint voice is very, very important. Please, if you are a collector, writer, historian
or dealer in glass (or just plain interested in the subject) make your point felt, and protest against DMBC pushing through
such a detrimental project. Please urge others to do likewise so that the protest can pick up momentum again after the cynical
moves by the council to silence any concerns.
A promise costs nothing, but action speaks loudly.
DMBC's actions say that it's 'business as usual', and we're carrying on with our original plan of closing
BHGM in favour of moving it to the RHC site regardless.
Many boroughs in this country would give much to have this
sort of access to world recognition; it is again up to us to impress this upon them. Please help by writing
directly to the council with your objections to the move to the Red House Cone, hoie detrimental it will be for the history
of the area and what a missed opportunity it is for regenerating the whole area with the input of tourism - which of course
depends on something, or things, that act as a big enough attraction for visitors.
Many thanks for your interest, help and support, Nigel
© Copyright Copyright © of this site and all material
contained in it belongs to
Nigel Benson, 20th Century Glass
For permission to use any material please
NOTE: Nigel Benson established 20th Century Glass in 1986 and has no connection with any other
internet based company using the same name.
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Examples of the sort of stock we carry
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| Tear drop vase with spiral trailed rim by Harry Powell for James Powell & Sons, c1910 |
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| Vases designed by Pavel Hlava, Czechoslovakia c1960 |
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| Moser goblet vase in 'Alexandrite' |
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| Art Deco cut glass vase by an unknown designer for Webb Corbett, c1930's |
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