Hi folks,
Through the Molineaux Webb website I've been contacted by the descendants of a designer glass cutter from the firm, George Edward Darby, who was active circa 1880 until his death in 1927. The family have several dozen pieces which they understand were samples prior to production (they had more but many were lost in WW2 bombing).
I have tried to date and ID these but as you might know, info on early 20th century Manchester cut glass is near zero. My guess is they come from approx 1905-1925 (with a gap for WW1 where no table glass was produced). The family also have some pressed pieces which can be dated to registrations of 1911-1912 which ties in.
What is just as interesting as the date is who these pieces may have been sold to. Going off the firm's account books, the three main runners would appear to be Stoniers, railways, and retail. My guess - from looking at the wine glass image, is that some of these pieces may have been sold on to Stoniers for cruise ships etc - but all other ideas happily entertained.
A few of these pieces are of shapes which I've not seen before. The shallow plate is an odd one and the image I've labelled "wild thing" seems to have a spout on top but not like anything I've seen previously...
Anyone like to comment on date, style of pieces or likely use?
Here are some images courtesy of the family concerned...
Neil