Topic: One green (Ysart) bottle...

[tropdevin]

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Are green Ysart bottles like this one rare or very rare?  And do they come in other colours?

Alan

[KevinH]

See my article:
http://www.btinternet.com/~kevh.glass/pages/Inkwells/Inkwells.htm

I am wary of bottles with "Ysart" canes but having plain colour (or very patchy stripes) instead of fairly well defined coloured and spiralled stripes. Many fall into the "unknown maker" category - as illustrated in Bob Hal''s book, Scottish Paperweights.

However, there are bottles that are presumably true Strathearn and some may have "Ysart" canes.

A UV check (long and short wave) will confirm those that are not "Ysart" or Strathearn.

[cfosterk]

I sent the vendor an email suggesting the attribution was misleading - "in the manner of" perhaps would be more appropriate.

I bought 4 vasart-style inkwells from the same vendor at the newark fairs on seperate occassions. I think the prices varied from £65 to £85.00 so the prices weren't excessive. I wouldn't have recognised an ysart fish from a mackerel at the time. However, there was a certain quality in terms of manufacture/composition. I've only a single example left now. My example has a profusion of identifiable strathearn and vasart canes, and although a single colour (the same green) has very distinctive spiral/stripes. Very similar to the example illustrated on page 166 of Bob Halls book.

[KevinH]

My example has a profusion of identifiable strathearn and vasart canes, and although a single colour (the same green) has very distinctive spiral/stripes. Very similar to the example illustrated on page 166 of Bob Halls book.

The green bottle on page 166 of Bob's book shows a wide, low neck and a comparatively large stopper. The green colour is very close to, or maybe the same as, the base section of the red and green "unknown maker" bottle in my page I linked to above. The twist canes are identical to those in my bottle and have appeared in several of the "unknown maker" bottles. The stripes vary from "only just striped" as in my example to good workmanship as in the page 166 item. Most of them have "identifiable strathearn and vasart canes" - which is what makes it difficult for most people to assess without the aid of a uv light.

[cfosterk]

Will the very skilled manufacturer of these pieces ever come forward? I wish I'd asked the vendor more questions as he/they had a very steady supply at the time - every six months or so there would be a dozen or so paperweight and inkwells.

The glass-making community is not so very large, but is very talented indeed..... :thup:

[Frank]

Unlikely, as although the makers are innocent of deception the dealer originally involved was not. It is always a shame that the makers do not say "It was me" they are following a great tradition and help to keep it alive, adding their names to the history would be a wonderful thing.