My understanding is that vitro-porcelain is a particular type of opaque glass made by Sowerby (which was manufactured like glass, and had many of the properties of glass, but had a composition and appearance similar to porcelain) and which first appeared in 1877. Its properties made it particularly suitable for press moulding into decorative pieces. Initially it appeared in a pale turquoise blue colour in imitation of fashionable blue Chinese porcelain, but other colours were produced soon afterwards (most commonly seen being white or black).
Other British manufacturers of pressed glass wares also produced pieces using their own versions of opaque coloured glass (which are commonly often referred to as ‘vitro-porcelain’) though I personally think that the term ‘vitro-porcelain’ should be reserve for attributed Sowerby pieces as its composition was particular to them.
As to two creamers shown here, what’s wrong with simply calling them opaque white glass?
The term ‘milk glass’ seems to be applied to a whole range of opaque or translucent coloured glasses and, rather like the term’vaseline glass’, leaves itself open to a whole range of interpretations.
Fred.
Topic: milk glass jug Sowerby? help please (Read 2815 times)
