About the Tillerman, Mike Poole

An art teacher and avid boater, I live aboard a narrowboat on the UK canal system. The name for my eBay account and my webpage came from my connections with the canal boats. I have been creating fine glass art with a torch for more than six years, bringing to lampworking all my previous experience in my other artistic endeavors including watercolours, pottery and other artistic disciplines. I taught art at high school level for over 30 years before taking early retirement, and find lampwork to be a wonderful way to relax and be creative at the same time, using the time at the torch to lose myself in my art.  I enjoy exploring the roots of beadmaking in Britain and have worked to produce unique and individual beads with a historic heart and a contemporary feel.

Terms of Sale

Thank you for purchasing beads or jewellery from Tillerman Beads.

I am a self-representing artist and am registered with the Self-Representing Artist registry, with SRA #P3, a member of the ISGB, and travel widely across the UK, selling beads at various venues and also giving demonstrations of beadmaking, including at the National Museum of Wales and for archaeology departments in the UK. All the lampwork listed in the auctions is made by me in my studio in the Pennines in the north of England. Each bead is individually made using a Minor torch, Effetre/Moretti, Vetrofond or other 'soft' glass. All beads are annealed in a Caldera Paragon digitally-controlled kiln, cleaned and examined for flaws before being presented for sale. Each bead is individually created to be unique and original, all beads are one of a kind pieces of glass art. I guarantee any lampworked bead I make to be durable under normal use and will replace any bead that cracks under normal wear or stress. All my beads are carefully annealed in a digitally-controlled kiln and examined closely before sale for any possible cracks or defects. I will not knowingly sell a bead that is anything but the finest quality.

Please note that even with extra care taken to make sure that all photographs of beads and jewellery are taken in normal daylight and are as close to the actual colours of the various items, the variations in computer displays may give a different colour or saturation of colour. If you receive any item that you feel does not match up with your expectations we will be happy work with you on the issue if you contact us with your problem.

All jewellery created for sale on the Tillerman Beads website or through auction is made of the best professional-quality materials and includes Bali silver, sterling silver, rolled gold/gold-filled findings and semi-precious gemstone beads purchased from suppliers who guarantee that they are not dyed or processed in any way unless stated in the item description. I do not knowingly use glass or beads from sources that are not guaranteed to provide a decent working wage and conditions for the workers, the majority of my glass accent beads are top-quality Czech glass and Czech crystal. All items are guaranteed for normal wear and will be repaired or replaced if necessary. Please contact me with any questions you may have on items before purchasing if you wish.

All postage and packing costs include the shipping box, postage and insurance outside the UK and a certificate of posting to UK addresses. I ship all my beads in boxes rather than envelopes to ensure they arrive safely and in the best condition, and will combine shipments to save on postage costs if preferred. Gift wrapping is also available as is creating special beads or jewellery to your personal requirements. Necklaces and bracelets may be adjustable in size depending on the construction of the item of jewellery and if they can be adjusted it will be noted in the listing for that piece of jewellery.

Please feel free to email me at sales@tillerman.co.uk for any questions you may have about bidding on my auctions at eBay or visit the Tillerman Beads website itself.

Thank you again for your interest in my work.

Mike Poole - the Tillerman