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Sir Laurence Whistler

This article is more than 23 years old
He singlehandedly revived a great renaissance tradition of glass engraving

Sir Laurence Whistler, the writer, poet and glass engraver, who has died aged 88, singlehandedly revived the tradition of point engraving on glass goblets and bowls, an intricate technique popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. His simultaneous use of line engraving and stippling methods on both sides of the glass was a great innovation, creating an illusion of perspective in his portrayal of unmistakeably English landscapes.

Laurence had many followers, and in 1975 became the first president of the newly-established Guild of Glass Engravers. Exhibitions of his glass over the years included those at Agnews in 1969, the Coming Museum, New York, in 1974, Sotheby's in 1992 - to celebrate his 80th birthday - and one with his son, Simon, also a glass engraver, in Salisbury in 1994.

His glasses were popular commemorative gifts and he received several important commissions from members of the royal family. He also engraved glass for several church windows, including his most important commission of 12 large windows at Moreton church, Dorset.

Laurence was the youngest son of a builder and decorator, and his wife, who lived in Eltham, southeast London. He revered his older brother, the artist Rex Whistler. The family moved at various times, and he was finally sent to Stowe school, where his history tutor, Martin Mac- laughlin, encouraged him to make measured drawings of the school buildings. In 1930, he went to Balliol College, Oxford, where his fees were paid by Rex, by then earning a good deal as an artist and illustrator.

Laurence changed from studying history to English, leading a quiet life mostly reading poetry. His first book of poems, Armed October, was published in 1932, with illustrations by Rex. In 1934, he published a second book of poems and took a job as assistant secretary to the press board of the Church Assembly. In 1935, he won the Royal Gold Medal for Poetry, given for the best book of the year by a writer under 35.

On the strength of this prize, Laurence left his job, and signed contracts for a further book of poems, and a life of the architect and dramatist Sir John Vanbrugh. Published in 1938, this last book was a pioneering work, which revived interest in the English baroque architecture movement.

To supplement his income, Laurence began glass engraving. In 1934, he stayed with the daughter of Sir Edwin Lutyens in Northumberland, where, with a diamond-tipped pencil, he engraved a sonnet on a window pane, decorating it with an urn of wild flowers. Rex encouraged him and Laurence's first designs were in the manner of his brother.

It was around this time that he met Jill Furse, a young actress. They married in 1939 and, when war was declared, settled at a cottage at Venton, near Bideford, where he continued glass engraving and, with Jill's encouragement, wrote poetry. Their idyllic life at this time is described in Laurence's book, The Initials In The Heart, which was published in 1964 to wide acclaim. During the war, he served as an army instructor.

In 1944, he suffered two personal tragedies. In July, Rex was killed in action in Normandy - Laurence read the news when he picked up a newspaper at Waterloo station. Then, in November, not long after the birth of a daughter, Jill died of a blood infection. Laurence was unable to be with her at the time.

After demobilisation, he went to live with his young children, and the Furse family, in London and, later, Devon. In 1950, he married Theresa, the younger sister of Jill, with whom he had a son and daughter. This marriage broke up. His third marriage, to Carol, in 1987 was dissolved in 1991.

Other books included Rex Whistler, His Life And His Drawings (1948), The Laughter And The Urn, The Life Of Rex Whistler (1985), and several works on his engraved glass. Laurence was a man of great intellect, kindness and modesty, always encouraging young artists and writers. His books and glass engravings are endowed with a rare poetic sensitivity as well as a very professional vigour.

Laurence Whistler, glass engraver, born January 21 1912; died December 19 2000

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