The Glass Sellers Prize

Working under the patronage of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers, George Ravenscroft made his famous discovery of lead crystal glass. Its manufacture subsequently began in 1674 on the site now occupied by the Savoy Hotel in the Strand. Since then the Glass Sellers Company has continued, in various ways to support the art of glassmaking, consolidating this in the main, in two awards for Glass Art. The Glass Sellers Prize used to be an annual award but since 2008 has been linked to the British Glass Biennale and is awarded biennially.

The Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers has worked in association with the British Glass Biennale since 2008 to offer four prizes, with a student section incorporated. The Glass Sellers Art & Craft Award is worth £2500 with a Runner up of £1000 and the Glass Sellers Art & Craft Student Award of £1000 with Runner up of £500.

The winner in each category (and his or her partner) will be invited to attend the Glass Sellers annual banquet at the Mansion House in late October.

Submission

We look for originality and talent in the use of glass as a medium of artistic expression and the awards are presented for the artistic and technical excellence of submissions predominantly in glass but specifically excluding stained glass windows. Pieces submitted must be available for sale and have been made since within two years of the submission date.

Eligibility

The awards are only open to entrants currently working and residing in the UK.

Entrants for the Glass Sellers’ Art & Craft Award may submit up to three pieces. Entrants for the Student Award must currently be studying or be within three years of graduating at the time of the awards jurying and may submit up to three pieces. Winners of the main award may not enter the competition again within five years. Previous student winners are eligible to submit for the Main Award and Engraved Glass Award.

Award winners will be chosen from selected artists within the British Glass Biennale who fall within our eligibility criteria.