Caithness Glass History

admin — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 10:01:25 +0000

Caithness Glass has a rich and colorful history that began in 1961 in Wick, a town in the far northeast of Scotland. It was founded by Robin Sinclair, 2nd Viscount Thurso, as a way to bring skilled employment to an area hit hard by the decline of farming and fishing industries

Originally, the company produced bowls, vases, and drinking glasses, but it was the arrival of Paul Ysart in 1962 and later Colin Terris in 1968 that transformed Caithness into a world leader in glass paperweights

Terris launched the first modern paperweight collection, The Planets, in 1969, and the company quickly gained a global following.

Over the decades, Caithness Glass expanded with factories in Oban and Perth, and even acquired the historic Whitefriars Glass brand in 1981

It was awarded a Royal Warrant by the Queen Mother in 1968, a mark of prestige and quality

Despite financial struggles that led to receivership in 2004 and again in 2006, the brand was revived by Dartington Crystal and now operates from a smaller studio in Crieff, continuing its legacy of handcrafted artistry

Caithness Glass - Holytown Antiques Forum

Caithness Glass History