Hi Christine. My hexagonal bowl is quite big - 9.5" at its widest. However, the base is 6.5" at its widest, and each side measures just over 3" long. What it was originally intended for, I just don't know. It lately occurred to me that it might have originally been a container of some kind with a lid. The raised circles are basically just slightly raised marks on the bottom, I imagine where the bowl has been held in place when being made. It could be a bowl to hold a smaller flower pot in, or just a bog standard multi-purpose bowl. Getting hold of a trade catalogue would perhaps be the only answer, or access to archives. I think it would look fab. on a plinth, so I'm on the look out for one. There's an amber hexag. plinth (Davidson's) on ebay currently, but I checked the size and it was too small, so I'm on the lookout for a larger one.
I live near a book seller/dealer who also stocks old magazines and such. I thought it might be interesting some time to have a look through some to see if there are any retailer advertisements for glass. Thats my new project
Haven't been to the World of Glass at St.Helens. Sounds an interesting place. May be one for the summer.
Anne E.B.