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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Unresolved Glass Queries => Topic started by: heartofglass on December 29, 2005, 01:47:49 AM

Title: blue slag glass mystery item-I.D needed!
Post by: heartofglass on December 29, 2005, 01:47:49 AM
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-660
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-659
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-658

Here is a mystery item I got at a flea market a few years ago & have been stumped by ever since! It is a pressed,blue with maroon streaks slag glass item with a mark underneath which reads ECAS ZENITH in an oval, then below that, BREV. I can't find this mark anywhere- hoping someone out there will know it.

The item looks slightly art deco in design, & is obviously a functional, rather than decorative item. My guess is a bathroom fitting of some kind- a soap holder, or a toilet roll holder. It actually holds a roll of loo paper perfectly- there are 2 holes on either side of it, into which a wooden or plastic spool can be fitted. But why make such a thing from slag glass??

It's very odd indeed! Looking forward to hearing your opinions,

Marinka.
Title: blue slag glass mystery item-I.D needed!
Post by: Ivo on December 29, 2005, 08:32:07 AM
the BREV part is for Breveté (patent) in French or for Brevetato (idem) in Italian
Title: blue slag glass mystery item-I.D needed!
Post by: heartofglass on December 29, 2005, 10:19:45 AM
Ivo,
thanks so much for your clue to the origin of this item! Now I can narrow it down to a French or Italian manufacturer.
How it ended up at a flea market in Sydney, I have no idea!
It is in perfect condition- no chips or cracks, in fact it looks like it has never been used for whatever it's purpose happens to be.
The stall-holder I bought it from had no idea what it was, & even though it is not really the kind of item I'd normally buy, the mystery about it attracted me.
Thanks again,
Marinka.
Title: blue slag glass mystery item-I.D needed!
Post by: Connie on December 29, 2005, 10:26:03 AM
Marinka -

Glass bathroom accessories were very popular in the US in the 1920s-30s.  You can find toliet paper holders, wall mounted soap dishes, towel rods of varying lengths etc. made from jadite (jade green glass), transparent pink,  transparent green, etc.

So I think your assessment that the piece is a toliet paper holder is correct.  There were probably matching pieces to the set.
Title: blue slag glass mystery item-I.D needed!
Post by: heartofglass on December 29, 2005, 12:55:27 PM
Thanks Connie,
That's really interesting to find out, as I was quite unfamiliar with the idea of there being glass bathroom accessories.
They must be very rare in Australia, as I've never seen them in any houses I've lived in or visited. Or in any other places except for that one time at my local flea market.
Mostly all our bathroom accessories are glazed ceramic or plastic.
In fact, the idea that this item might be a toilet roll holder came to me because in my bathroom there is a plastic (1960s era) wall-recessed holder of a similar shape. It occured to me one day to see if the spool from it would fit my mystery item-& it did!
But still I wasn't convinced-I couldn't believe such a mundane item would be made of such nice glass! Now,I guess it could be!
Thanks again,
Marinka.
Title: Heartofglass
Post by: Sklounion on January 16, 2006, 10:01:08 PM
Heartofglass.... see Anne's Glass queries.... re: ECAS Zenith item...

Regards,

Marcus
Title: Heartofglass
Post by: heartofglass on January 17, 2006, 10:55:19 AM
Marcus,
thanks for the i.d help on this piece, I really appreciate it!
Sorry I haven't replied sooner but I've only just got back from holidays (no 'puter & no internet access :( )
I'm excited to know that this is possibly Belgian glass, as I didn't know I had any in my collection.
Thanks again,
Marinka.