Thomas Webb and Sons A fine Persian-style ivory-cameo glass vase by Jules Barbe, dated 1889

C.W.Perry, The Cameo Glass of Thomas and George Woodall, p.66, fig.

One of the greatest gilders and enamellers of glass in the late 19th century, by family repute Jules Barbe was born in Paris where he trained as a decorative artist at a time when the "Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs" was established to support those arts.  Following his wife's death during the siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War, Barbe brought his family and twenty-six other French craftsmen to London.

Barbe settled in Stourbridge where he went to work at Thomas Webb and Sons.  He worked exclusively for Webb's until 1901 working closely with the master cameo artist George Woodall.  Barbe then set up as a freelance decorator working alongside Stuart and Sons, especially.  He died at the age of 79 after World War I in Switzerland.

The shape number for this vase in the Webb pattern books is W2195.

The New York firm of Tiffany and Co. exhibited English cameo work on their stand at the Paris Exposition of 1889. Generally, such pieces bear not only the exhibition provenance but also the name of the retailer.