F. & C. Osler Candelabras
British glassmakers F. & C. Osler redefined the art of cut-glass design in an era of Victorian luxury, refinement and grandeur.
The firm began in Birmingham in 1807 by Thomas Osler, who established his business making small glass ornaments and pieces for chandeliers. His sons, Follett and Clarkson Osler, joined the company and, in 1831, reorganized it as F. & C. Osler.
During the 1840s, F. & C. Osler expanded production to include the manufacture of chandeliers and glass furnishings, opening a second workshop in London in 1845. The company focused on producing large-scale designs, leading to the creation of one of their most famous pieces: the 27-foot-high, four-ton Crystal Fountain for London’s Great Exhibition in 1851. Another notable F. & C. Osler piece at the exhibition was a pair of eight-foot-high candelabras purchased by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria. Today, they are on display as part of the Royal Collection at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
The success of F. & C. Osler’s Crystal Fountain established the company’s reputation as one of the finest glassmakers of the 19th century. Wealthy clients coveted its cut-glass chandeliers, wall sconces, epergnes, candelabras and decorative centerpieces.
F. & C. Osler also received several important commissions. In 1856, F. & C. Osler designed a large chandelier for St. George’s Hall in Liverpool and a 36-light chandelier for London’s Mansion House. In 1858, they were asked to produce tableware for a banquet held by Queen Victoria at Aston Hall, in Birmingham. The Queen is said to have been so impressed with the glassware she asked permission to keep a champagne glass.
F. & C. Osler thrived throughout the late 19th century, experimenting with complex cut-glass motifs and expanding its successful export market to India. They became a favorite glassmaker for Indian royalty and aristocratic English ex-pats.
By the 1920s, demand for cut-glass products waned, and F. & C. Osler closed its Birmingham factory in 1922. The company remained in business, albeit on a much smaller scale, until 1976.
Today, F. & C. Osler remains a symbol of grand Victorian glassmaking and is sought by antique collectors and interior designers worldwide.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of antique F. & C. Osler lighting, decorative objects and serveware.
1880s English Louis XVI Antique F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Crystal, Bronze
20th Century English Victorian F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Glass
1860s British Victorian Antique F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Cut Glass
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Bronze, Silver Plate
19th Century French Gothic Antique F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XV Antique F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Bronze, Ormolu
Early 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Pewter
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
1880s English George III Antique F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Crystal
Mid-19th Century European Empire Antique F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Ormolu
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Louis XV F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Bronze
1890s French Antique F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Bronze
19th Century English Victorian Antique F. & C. Osler Candelabras
Crystal, Bronze
