Two uncommon pressed glass commemorative designs registered in 1887:
The first is a plate which has a central area with the Manx triskelion (‘The Three Legs’) with a part- beaded ring bearing the legend ‘A PRESENT FROM THE ISLE OF MAN’, itself bordered by another narrow beaded ring, then an outer scalloped border with a pattern of leaves and small clusters of some kind of fruit (interrupted by a clear panel etched with the name ELLEN ANN).
Marked with registered design number 84747 (registered to Sowerby on 21 October 1887). Jenny Thompson gives a design description as ‘pattern of butter (vine pattern’), so that probably refers to the decoration of the outer border, though a tankard from the same RD number is decorated with what are undoubtedly ivy leaves and berries, and a Robert Burns commemorative plate RD 84747 has a border of leaves and thistle heads.
The second is a shallow dish which has a central area with a quartered armorial shield (which presumably can’t be an official Australian coat of arms since, following the federation of Australia, the first official coat of arms of Australia was granted by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908). The shield is not clear enough to see the symbols on it, but I imagine they represent the Australian states as they were in 1888 – is anyone able to confirm the precise form and symbolism of the shield, please?
The central area is bordered with the legend in raised dots ‘AUSTRALIA’S CENTENARY’ and two flanking shields bearing the dates 1788 and 1888.
Marked with the registered design number 88120, registered to Greener & Co., Sunderland on 26 November 1887. Jenny Thomson describes the design as ‘pattern and shape of a dish (centenary)’.
(Permission for the re-use of these images on the GMB granted by Rob Young).
I will be adding these photos to the GMB RD database gallery shortly.
Fred.
Topic: Two uncommon pressed glass commemorative designs registered in 1887. (Read 2913 times)
