Webb Burmese: English Heat-Sensitive Art Glass

Webb Burmese is a distinctive type of heat-sensitive art glass produced by Thomas Webb & Sons of Stourbridge, England, under license from the Mt. Washington Glass Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, beginning in 1886. Like its American counterpart, Webb Burmese glass shades from a warm salmon pink to a soft lemon yellow through the careful reheating of uranium-containing glass. Queen Victoria so admired this glass that she ordered a tea set, after which Webb marketed their version as "Queen's Burmese Ware." The English production is generally considered equal or superior to the American original in quality and finish.

Identification & Marks

Webb Burmese may bear an acid-etched "Thos. Webb & Sons / Queen's Burmese Ware" mark or a simple "WEBB" mark. Many pieces are unmarked, requiring attribution by glass quality, form, and decoration style. Webb Burmese is distinguished from Mt. Washington Burmese by its typically slightly deeper coloring, different form repertoire, and English-style decoration. The glass has a characteristic satin (acid-etched matte) or glossy finish. Some pieces feature hand-painted enamel decoration of flowers, berries, or insects. The uranium content causes the glass to fluoresce under UV light, which is a useful authentication tool.

Types & Forms

• Vases: From small bud vases to large decorative pieces, in various shapes including gourd, bottle, and ruffled-rim forms
• Fairy Lamps: Small candle-lit night lights with dome shades sitting on matching saucer bases, produced in conjunction with Samuel Clarke's fairy lamp holders
• Rose Bowls: Spherical vessels with crimped openings
• Ewers & Pitchers: Decorative pouring vessels with applied handles
• Tea Services: The famous Queen Victoria tea set form
• Epergnes: Elaborate centerpieces with multiple trumpet vases
• Toothpick Holders: Small collectible vessels

Auction Price Ranges

Condition Factors

The satin surface finish on Webb Burmese is created by acid etching and is susceptible to wear and abrasion. Handle pieces carefully; fingerprints and cleaning can wear the satin texture. Chips are serious defects, particularly on thin-walled pieces. The characteristic color graduation from pink to yellow should be even and attractive. Enamel decoration should be intact without flaking or wear. Fairy lamps should have matching dome and base; mismatched components reduce value. Glossy-finish pieces (without acid etching) are rarer and command premiums. The glass is relatively soft and scratches easily.

Collecting Tips

Webb Burmese is generally more expensive than Mt. Washington Burmese due to perceived higher quality and royal association. The "Queen's Burmese Ware" designation adds cachet to marked examples. Fairy lamps are among the most decorative and sought-after forms, combining the appeal of Burmese glass with the Clarke fairy lamp collecting category. Pieces with hand-painted enamel decoration (typically naturalistic flowers and berries) command premiums over undecorated examples. UV fluorescence testing can help distinguish genuine uranium-containing Burmese from similar-looking glass. Pairs of matching vases are worth significantly more than singles. The color graduation quality varies; pieces with rich, even shading from strong salmon pink to clear yellow are most desirable. Compare with Mt. Washington production to understand differences in form and decoration style.