James Keith

Text Randi Gaustad

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The industrial spy Morten Wærn tricked himself into the recipe for English lead crystal. Equally important was that he managed to recruit English skilled workers to Norway, which was strictly prohibited according to English legislation. In the summer of 1755, master winder James Keith came to Nøstetangen. It became decisively important for glass production. Before he arrived, the shape of the glasses was largely characterized by German glass tradition.

 

It was to Keith's credit that greater emphasis was placed on so-called cottage work, that is, decorations on glass that are carried out while the glass is still warm and malleable. It could be glass threads that were laid in a waffle pattern around the lower part of the bell, tabs of glass threads on the lid and footplate, called leaves or stately bell buttons in the shape of a crown.

Last, but not least, it applied to the slim wine glasses with air or enamel spirals in the stem. Keith introduced the English glass tradition at Nøstetangen.

It was this, in combination with the German traditions, that created the special Nøsttangen style.

 

When Nøstetangen was closed down, Keith moved with the other glass workers to Hurdal glassworks, where he worked until he retired in 1779.