Topic: Griffin Vase - ID = Edward Moore (three swan vase)

[Simba]

Can anywone help with the maker of this griffin vase ? Some books attribute this mould to Sowerby and the only others I have seen are either in vitro-porcelain or slag glass. This green colour of mine doesn't look like a Sowerby green, I have also seen this mould attributed to Edward Moore ?

[Wayne]

Hi, I just came across your post while researching the same vase.  The Victoria & Albert museum has this design attributed to Edward Moore & Co circa 1880, shown in their online collections:

http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O6582/vase-edward-moore-co/

[Lustrousstone]

Slack (p108) says there is no evidence that these are Sowerby (the colours are wrong) but that Edward Moore is likely as they are colours patented by Edward Moore

[Simba]

Yes you are right, I sent pictures to the curator of Glass - Angus McDonald, at South Shields Museum, he  has been writing a book about South Shields glass baron Edward Moore. He very kindly rang me and we had a long chat about this piece and he says it is by Moore.

[Lustrousstone]

Ask him to let us know when the book is out!

[Simba]

Good idea, I'll do that !! 

[brucebanner]

Here are a pair in light blue.

[Simba]

I like those ones in light blue   

[brucebanner]

I thought they might be scarce but there a fair few survivors on google in all colours,  I just wonder how many were made.

The title of this link could do with changing as people still sell these as Sowerby.

[Mosquito]

Slack (p108) says there is no evidence that these are Sowerby (the colours are wrong) but that Edward Moore is likely as they are colours patented by Edward Moore

I think I've found the source of the Sowerby attribution. Barbara Morris states that: "a vase in this design was bought by the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague direct from Sowerby & Co. in 1868." How true this is I've no idea but it's an interesting avenue to investigate. it could well be that this was a mix-up but then again there's always the possibility that the Sowerby attribution is correct or that the pattern was made by both firms.

Reference: Morris, B. 1978 Victorian Table Glass and Ornaments London: Barrie and Jenkins

Lattimore shows this design (in blue and black marbled glass) unattributed along with two other possibly related vases with similar neoclassical motifs.