My obsession with hand vases is fairly well-known, but does anyone else out there collect them too?
I mainly collect glass ones (nearly 100) but have a few ceramic ones.....I'm interested in hearing from other hand vase collectors & especially would love to see photos of your collections.
I'm in the
veryearly stages of planning a book on hand vases (& other hand shaped ornaments) & getting in touch with other collectors is part of my research process.
I don't mind whether you collect them in glass,ceramic,or any other material.
In case anyone wonders what on earth I'm talking about, a hand vase is a vase shaped like a lady's hand holding a cornucopia or trumpet shaped vase. Most typically seen in opaque milk glass but there are loads of different types.In glass, they may be either pressed or mould-blown. Also made in parian porcelain & slipcast ceramics. I also have one made of brass.
There are also dishes,bottles,comports,toothpick holders, paperweights, & ring holders featuring hands.
They were first made in the Victorian era but continued to be made through the 20th C.
Known makers include John Derbyshire, Portieux, Gillinder, Duncan, Fenton, Jain, Akro Agate, Westmoreland,as well as various Bohemian/Czech & Asian manufacturers.....no doubt there are many more makers to be discovered. If you have any info/documentation on other manufacturers of hand vases, I'd be very interested in that, too.
Come on guys, give me a hand!