Behind Closed Doors John Moncrieff

Building on its heritage, history and strong foundations has ensured this Kinross glassmaker has a bright future

- Miriam Methuen-Jones

Look at one of John Moncrieff’s delicate, intricate lamps, and it’s hard to believe that the firm’s roots are much more prosaic: bottles for ink, gauge glass for locomotives and steamships, and laboratory glassware for hospitals and factories were the mainstays of the company’s output for much of its history. In fact, it could be argued that the decorative side of the business only arose by accident, as the result of an experiment. But how glad we are that it did: these beautiful, colourful pieces illuminate some of the most interesting interiors in the country, and their makers are always ready to go the extra mile to create something bespoke and genuinely unique.