Topic: Sowerby Creamer 23 Feburary 1877

[mhgcgolfclub]

A Sowerby creamer with 3 claw feet and hand cut stars.

Date lozenge for 23rd February 1877.

Height 3.25"

Roy

[agincourt17]

Nice piece, Roy.

There were only 2 Sowerby registrations for 23 February 1877 - Parcel 8.

RD 307957 (candlestick Sowerby pattern 1196, your photo reference of which I already have), which this creamer patently is not.

RD 307958 (which Thomson and Cottle both describe as a "fluted bowl"), so this is probably a creamer to match a fluted sugar bowl (or even other parts from a suite with similar decorative features). Unfortunately, I can't so far match it with any of the pattern numbers from the extant Sowerby pattern books.

Does anyone have photos of any other pieces that might match this creamer, Please?

It will be interesting to see if Paul has the design representation for RD 307958.

Fred.

[Paul S.]

The Kew Representation certainly agrees with the description of 'fluted bowl' - and although no stars present on the original drawing, these were a very common cut decorative feature for absolute eons.            However, would this little additonal cut decoration have been something that the factory would apply, or might it have been out-sourced?

[agincourt17]

Thank you, Paul.

A cut version of the fluted bowl in the right size would certainly make a nice sugar bowl companion for Roy's creamer.

Out-sourcing of cut and engraved decoration was commonplace in the Midlands, and there were numerous cutting and decorating factories (often quite small) in the glassworking areas.

Sowerby pattern book XI (1885) shows a significant number of cut and engraved patterns (including sugars and creamers) and, with the quantities that a large concern like Sowerby was capable of producing, in-house cutting and / or engraving may well have been feasible. Does anyone know of any evidence for it?

Similarly, I know of know of no direct evidence for a substantial cutting and engraving sub-contracted industry in the North-East to serve the areas's glassworks, but the Victorians had a wonderful knack of matching demand with supply in quick order.

Fred.

[mhgcgolfclub]

Thank you Paul and Fred for all the extra information.

Roy