Topic: Rare? matt Davidson blue cloud bowl,rare block with rd no on?1885 epergne Rd no

[flying free]

this is a match for the part of the makers mark that is left on there - for J.E. Ltd  London
The link shows no name reference unfortunately, but they had a candlestick  hallmarked dated 1927
You need to scroll down and it's second one from bottom
http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/London-JC-JF.html#JE
m

[flying free]

With regard the rarity of the vase, I've managed to find the information I'd found originally on the Cloud Glass site

‘Normally one surface of the completed piece was treated to give it a matt appearance.  The majority of examples found today are like this.  It is rare to find cloud glass which is polished or matt on all surfaces.  Such pieces are sought after for their rarity.’ 
This is in combination with it having the block that is also matt.  I don't believe the block is a marriage, as it would be too difficult to find a) one that fitted and b) one that was matt as well.  So I think it originally came with the vase as a two piece.
ooh I've just thought, I've got some black plinths somewhere upstairs. It might look great on one of those. (it doesn't, the black drains the turquoise)

I'm no further forward in finding a matching 'drawn up ' block rather than a domed block.  I had thought that maybe the mushroom posy vases might require a block like this as it occurred to me their sides are straight and narrow so getting a domed block out of one of them might be difficult?  but I've not managed to find one yet.

The silver epergne centre has to have been deliberately put in as it is riveted in on the bottom, although whether it was made specifically for the vase, or adapted from a previous item I don't know.  But it does seem the dates match in era.
I've attached two more pics that are slightly better lighting, but this is a nightmare to photograph.  The matt surface does not allow the deep turquoise colour to show well at all   
m

[flying free]

checking the dates, the mushroom type posy bowls were introduced after they had stopped producing blue cloud glass as far as I can tell. So that theory doesn't work 
m

[exislegirl]

I have a few of these number 3 frogs in amber and green cloud glass, (not matte), but the same shape. The only matte frog I have is amber and is a size 4, and has an extra ring of holes. I also have the same shape bowl, but it is an 8 inch version. And although the vases are completely different shapes, they are all matte inside and out, and in two different blue cloud colours, and one amethyst.

Unfortunately, I still can't post images on this board, so have put them in my 'Show & Tell' album in Picasa:

https://picasaweb.google.com/103416468472622115928/ShowTell2?authkey=Gv1sRgCOvir_2iz7Pj-QE#

Regards, Natalie     

[David E]

You need to resize the images to less than 800 pixels in the longest dimension. And when saving the file it should be under 125KB to be accepted. I appreciate this is quite confusing to the beginner: unfortunately I can't seem to find the original post to enable this. However, one of my sites does show this with images. Probably a little dated now, and thumbnails are not a requirement as this board creates them for you.

I'm no further forward in finding a matching 'drawn up ' block rather than a domed block.

I'm sure the photo on cloudglass.com for the 283 shows the same style flower block. Although this is the 4-in version. I don't think there's any mystery there, M

[flying free]

David I'm sure you're right. Thank you 
Natalie, lovely pieces - I think the swirl and the colour of the cloud on mine looks remarkably similar to your matt blue vase on the far right of your picture.
I've found one other matt frog in green.  No vase seemingly.
m

[bfg]

following this thread with interest m, did you see my all matte 3 piece last year?

http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,47820.msg269163.html#msg269163

cheers, Mel

[flying free]

yes
it's also quite ribbony isn't it?
There are very few of these about at all so your set must be very rare.  I think there is one on the cloud glass site and I think there is one blue vase like Natalie's on there as well iirc.

The curious thing is, without wishing to 'diss' anyone's pictures  I'm finding it incredibly hard to take a good representative photo of my vase... it really is a gorgeous satin sheeny finish and  colour, but I've not been able to represent that and it seems neither have others    the pics make the matt finish look flat instead of glorious which it is in the flesh.
m

[David E]

Very interesting Mel. I have a few matte pieces in Topaz-Briar (my favourite cloud colour, and scarcer than blue), which I will be hanging onto. While I'm selling off the bulk of my cloud glass collection, the problem is knowing what to keep!

M. You could try experimenting with the lighting to show off the matte to best effect, although I have to admit it is tricky (you haven't done that badly, though). Using daylight as the only light source you could try angling the camera so that half is in shadow. That way something might show.

[Anne]

Pages 58 and 61 of the Davidson Glass book by Chris & Val Stewart have photos showing what appears to be the same design frog, M....  the pics aren't, so far as I can find, on the website. Worth checking the book if you have it.