Author Topic: Why drill a hole in a bowl? (Read 3739 times)

bidda · « **on:** October 23, 2006, 06:17:24 PM »

Hi, I found another bollicine piece that's (in my opinion) even more lovely than the cranberry one I'd posted earlier... The thing that makes me wonder about this piece is the HOLE that was drilled into the top!?! It was sold as an ashtray (and no mention of the hole was made in the listing *grrr*) but there are no cigarette rests. It's obviously a high quality piece (at least seven layers), very heavy and with a clean line but what purpose could the hole serve? Maybe a metal piece was originally inserted to provide a cigarette rest? Dunno :roll:

Any ideas on the what and why of this piece would be most helpful. Thanks for looking,

Bidda
http://www.schellers.org/ebay_images/segbol1.jpg
http://www.schellers.org/ebay_images/segbol2.jpg
http://www.schellers.org/ebay_images/segbol5.jpg

svazzo · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2006, 12:05:02 AM »

Hi Bidda,
I think its because they had attached it to a base, or a stand.
Javier

bidda · « **Reply #2 on:** October 24, 2006, 12:08:57 AM »

I hadn't thought of that, Javier... but then... how to explain the base that the piece rests upon now (as seen in the first photo)?

Thanks,
Bidda

Glasshound · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2006, 12:15:36 AM »

Pipe?

/Blair

svazzo · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2006, 12:43:58 AM »

ah!
Thought the hole was on the base.
Well, maybe Blair is on to something, lol.

Glasshound · « **Reply #5 on:** October 24, 2006, 12:58:37 AM »

Hmmmm....I thought the hole was drilled on the side...

my mistake! :?

/Blair

bidda · « **Reply #6 on:** October 24, 2006, 01:39:09 AM »

lol you guys are crazy!

the hole is on the top of the ashtray. my best guess is that, originally, a metal rod fit into the hole with a loop fitting down inside the edge of the bowl and a cigarette rest attached to the bottom of the loop (yes, I have a good imagination). Any thoughts on that theory? Has anyone ever seen a Murano piece with metal cigarette rests?

Thanks,
Bidda

p.s. now I can't get the image of fitting a glass straw into that hole out of my head... what a big pipe you have grandma... sheesh!

Lily of the Valley · « **Reply #7 on:** October 24, 2006, 02:51:39 AM »

:idea: Perhaps the hole allows the smoke to escape upwards. I have to say though that "the hole" looks to be an afterthought or addition :?: It is strange too that there is no cigarette rest so the pipe suggestion may be it. Is it big enough to hold a small candle or incense cone? Again, the hole would allow some of the heat to escape (or the fragrance). All I can say for sure is that it is real pretty to look at

All the best .... Lily

bidda · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2006, 03:41:37 AM »

thanks, Lily, I think it's rather pretty myself

A hole to allow smoke from insense is another idea I hadn't thought of and a good one. I'm just not sure... though I can't remember ever having seen a Murano insense burner and I'm pretty sure this piece is Murano glass. The hole doesn't strike me as an afterthought, but rather, as a purposeful design element due to it's professional execution. It certainly doesn't look like something someone might have done in their garage with their handy dandy drill press.

The bowl is about 3.5" diameter (2.5 diameter of the opening) so it would be plenty big for an insense cone but awefully big for a pipe *grins*.
Thanks,
Bidda

Laura Friedman · « **Reply #9 on:** October 24, 2006, 05:37:59 PM »

There was a wooden stem that came out the side, as it was a novelty pipe shaped ashtray. They pop up quite a bit.

Laura