George Ravenscroft

George Ravenscroft (1632 – 7 June 1683) was an English businessman in the import/export and glass making trades. He is primarily known for his work in developing clear lead crystal glass (also known as flint glass) in England.

Personal life Little is known about Ravenscroft's personal life, character or appearance, though his father described him in his will as a responsible family man and an astute businessman. He was born in 1632, the second of five sons of Roman Catholic parents who hid their true faith and lived outwardly as Anglicans, and he was baptized in Alconbury Weston, Huntingdonshire, England, in April 1633. and Ravenscroft decided to start his own glass-making business while still running his import/export business.

There is some debate over how, when, and why Ravenscroft was inspired to use lead in the production of glass. Some believe that he accidentally discovered that adding lead oxides to the glass mixture lent the final product special qualities, while others believe that he learned the technique in Venice. The use of lead in glass was known in Italy as proved by 12% lead being discovered in the white cameo layer of The Portland Vase, a famous Roman artefact in the British Museum Others point out that the process was documented in an Italian book, L'Arte Vetraria, written by Antonio Neri in 1612 was translated into English by Christopher Merret in 1662.

Whatever the origin of the idea, Ravenscroft believed that he had a unique product to offer the English market, so he applied to King Charles II for a patent in 1674 to establish his right to be sole manufacturer of lead crystal glass in England.

Ravenscroft’s Lead Crystal Glass

Ravenscroft's glass works were set up in two locations, the primary facility being established in Savoy, London in 1673 and a secondary, temporary facility set up between 1674 and 1675 in Henley-on-Thames.

More pieces created by Ravenscroft may exist, but in the absence of the raven's head seal, which he stopped using in about 1677, or any descriptions or drawings of his designs, it is difficult to positively attribute particular pieces to him. There may be around forty glass items made by Ravenscroft using his new lead recipe, but less than twenty with the raven's seal.

The addition of lead oxide to the raw ingredients of glass resulted in a melted mixture that had a lower viscosity than ordinary glass, Lead glass has a higher refractive index, making its appearance sparkling, bright, and brilliant in light. It "rings" when struck. Heavy baluster glass