I have just trawled many Fieldings auctions and found 6 vases and bowls in blues and greens spirals (in the decor we would refer to as rainbow), some cut, including the one referenced in BGbtW Dodworth with the cut oval windows on it. It just so happens all with blue and green (jade green?), none with pink (rose?) and green (jade green?)
Without exception they are all called Stevens and Williams and referred to as 1930s,but not a single one is described as 'Rainbow' or 'rainbow' or 'Rainbow Ware' or rainbow in any shape or form.
I have to believe that if this was a formally identified range name then they would be.
In The Crystal Years the author lists various range names apparently in order of period designed.
So as follows:
Rose du Barry c.1888
Verre de Soie c.1886
Moss Agate no date in book but British Glass 1800-1914 gives it as c 1888
Alexandrite c1890
Dolce Relivo c.1890
Latticino no date given
Fibrillose c.1901
Silveria c.1900
Fleurissant c.1915
Vitrolux 1916
Tortoiseshell mid 1930s
Caerleon refers to 'In 1919..' because in 1919 the Lighting factory developed a new range in this decor. I don't 'think' it was called Caerleon at that point though on reading the description in CH British Glass 20th Century. I think Caerleon was a name given to this decor later on.
Arboresque Early 1930s
Arboresque falls at the end and is said to be early 1930s.
I think it's entirely possible that The Crystal Years description of 'Arboresque' being
'This was a treatment carried out in the early 1930s and used a glasshouse effect of trailed uneven coloured glass, mainly of jade green and rose, on to the surface of clear crystal articles' refers to those vases we on the board call rainbow.
I can't see the crackle glass bowls that we've found, either those described as 'Arabesque' nor the one in Manley's book,nor the one I first linked to, nor this one that I've only just found that is from that same collection (the 'Andy and Rob Collection') as the one I first linked to
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/5715223particularly being a 1930s new design.
Neither do the two bowls found, nor the two from the 'Andy and Rob Collection, nor Manley's bowl 285, seem to particularly match the description given by Dodsworth or Manley for 'Arboresque' I don't think as from my point of view none are iridescent:
Manley - 'Stevens and Williams, in 4 colours. Recorded as 'Arboresque' in 1930. Crystal over cracked iridescent surface
Dodsworth - '... a style known as Arboresque, introduced in 1933' and 'Clear glass, blown into an irregular patterned mould and sprayed with orange metallic salts.'
I'm not entirely sure about the link Fred gave to the vaseline glass site piece, but his piece doesn't appear to fit the description of any of the three authors and his description doesn't mention 'iridescent' at all -
it says '... A design that was unique to Stevens & Williams was ARBORESQUE and is a crackle effect that is internal. This style came in a lot of shapes and at least 4 different colors. This version is vaseline with blue accents and handles.'
So perhaps they fit the apparently unknown description of 'Arabesque' rather than 'Arboresque'? Whilst the bowls we know as rainbow do fit the description of 'Arboresque' given in The Crystal Years.
Perhaps there
has been some confusion between this design 'known as' Arabesque, and the range of 'Arboresque?
With regards the spiral multicoloured decor we know as rainbow fitting the description of 'tree-like', I would say that all the vases I've found online have jade green in them which could be said to represent trees. The pink and green could be interpreted as tree branches with blossom and the pink and blue, tree branches with sky?
An arbor can also be described as 'a shelter of vines or branches or of latticework covered with climbing shrubs or vines' (Merriam-Webster dictionary)
I think the rainbow decor fits that well.
I've put two links here, one to a pink and green vase we know as rainbow, the other to the blue and green version just for reference:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,42704.msg237570.html#msg237570http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10318/DSCF1198.jpgFor the fourth colour (as Manley asserts it came in 4 colours, though as I've said he may have been confusing arabesque and 'Arboresque' in which case his mention of the 4 colours would refer to arabesque I guess), but in the case of those vases we know as rainbow, that would be clear as many of the versions show clear as well as the two colours. So the colours are Jade green, Rose, Blue and Clear.
So do we have perhaps have a new decor and pattern name match?
m