James Powell

Harry James Powell (24 January 1853 – 26 November 1922) was a British glassmaker associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. He was manager and chief glassmaker of James Powell and Sons from 1875 to 1919. He is best known for his innovations in the production of vessel glass, his contributions of new, medieval-like glass to the Arts and Crafts Movement, and the invention of innovative glass materials designed for the war effort during World War I.

Biography Harry James Powell was the grandson of James Powell, owner of James Powell and Sons Glass Company (originally known as Whitefriars Glassworks) in London. Powell graduated from Trinity College, Oxford in 1873, where he studied mechanics, physics and chemistry. Powell was chief designer of glassware. His intricate designs for vases, bowls and glassware had a strong following, as interest and demand soared for glass, first in the Arts and Crafts style and later in the Art Nouveau style. Powell kept records of his experiments, and made detailed notes of his impressions and work in notebooks, which are preserved in the British Museum.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Powell applied his scientific knowledge to create products that were used in science, industry and the war effort in the First World War. His innovations included X-ray tubes, light bulbs, and new types of thermometer. "His development of toughened glass for thermometer tubes, optical glass and ultimately for toughened glass for use on naval mines in World War I earned him his CBE, but brought the company through the difficult war years and able to expand vigorously afterwards".

In 1919, Powell retired from the company. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services during the First World War, which included the products he developed for the war effort. Powell died at his home in Dulwich on 26 November 1922. He was buried in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.

His book Glass Making in England was posthumously published in 1923.