New Acquisitions
The Turner Museum of Glass is actively acquiring new glass objects to add to its collection.
We are always interested in developing our collection and will regularly update this page with new objects.
Please come back to discover our new additions to the collection.
New Acquisition: Glow by Tracy Nicholls
Contemporary glass art work purchased by Professor John Parker for the collection with the legacy given by former university employee, Rosemary Sales.
‘Glow’ (13 x 10 cm) was made by the UK artist Tracy Nicholls. Tracy is a previous prize winner for best in show in 2008; she graduated with an MA from UCU Farnham in 2009 achieving a distinction in contemporary glass craft. She has also exhibited in Germany and Portugal. This work was on display at the International Glass Biennale in Stourbridge in August 2022.
Simplicity is the key to her work which showcases fused, slumped and cast kiln formed art glass. She favours a monochrome colour palette, using light, shape and form to capture the eye. This piece has a mat black external finish which sidesteps our stereotypical image and challenges our perception of what glass is, while its reflective golden internal coating is the source of its name.
Rosemary Sales began her early life in East Sheffield with working class parents. From these humble roots she went on in 1942 to study Sciences at Bedford College, University of London. She successfully graduated in 1945 and immediately joined a course in chemistry. After a few months in a geology lab she returned home and found employment on the West side of Sheffield. She worked as an analytical chemist firstly in the University’s Department of Glass Technology and later in Glass Technology Services in the building next door. She remembered Professor Turner, whom she described as an absolute gentleman. After formally retiring she returned to the University Glass Department for a while working with Prof M Cable.
One condition of the legacy was that a piece for the collection was to be purchased specifically by a female artist as Rosemary was a female working in a male-dominant environment and wanted some representation of women working in the glass industry.
Read more about Rosemary's legacy to the University of Sheffield:
Read an article published by the Society of Glass Technology about Rosemary Sales:
Donating to the Turner Museum of Glass Collection:
If you would like to donate an object to the Museum, please contact Honorary Curator Professor John Parker: j.m.parker@sheffield.ac.uk
Loans to and from the Turner Museum of Glass Collection:
We also take in loans of glass objects to add to our displays and show more diversity of glass pieces. We would be happy to loan out any of our collection to a museum or for an exhibition.
Please contact the University Heritage Collections Manager Emily Green: e.j.green@sheffield.ac.uk to discuss this further.
The collection of glass objects form part of the University Heritage Collection.