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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: tubitha on December 10, 2005, 01:43:19 PM

Title: Ink Bottles
Post by: tubitha on December 10, 2005, 01:43:19 PM

We have recently purchased a few ink bottles but are unsure of the makers of a couple and wondered if anyone could help with these.

Pictures attached and more can be taken if needed.

http://tinypic.com/iee3vk.jpg
http://tinypic.com/iee3xv.jpg
http://tinypic.com/iee42e.jpg
http://tinypic.com/iee4c9.jpg

Can't seem to get them to rotate and stay the right way up sorry!


Cheers Carol

Title: Ink Bottles
Post by: KevinH on December 11, 2005, 12:37:16 AM

Hi Carol,

I think the first bottle, with the pastel pink, white and yellow canes could be Perthshire Paperweights. But I have not personally seen many of their bottles and I can't find one of absolutely identical shape in the books. However, the overall shape and particularly the form of the neck, does look like PP work. Is there possibly a "P" cane somewhere - perhaps in the centre of one of the canes or maybe in the base of the bottle?

As for the other, this is one of a range of bottles and weights that are still awaiting definite identification. In several examples there are a mix of known Vasart and (later) Strathearn canes. Although at least some of these may have been made at the Strathearn works, all the ones I have checked under UV show a fluorescence that is not consistent with confirmed Strathearn items from at least 1968 through to the last years of their production.

Is the stopper a bit wobbly in the neck? And what is the base finished like? A photo of the base - at an angle - would be useful.

If you can do so, I would really like to see specific photos of the canes in the stopper and bottle as I cannot say from the initial images whether any of the canes are Vasart. For the stopper, a straight downwards view would do, but please take the photo with only the stopper in view, otherwise the focusing may become difficult. For the bottle section, I'd like to see four (or up to six) shots of the canes in separate groups.

If the camera cannot easily focus at close-up distances, please take the best possible shots and I will enlarge to get the information I need.

Title: Ink Bottles
Post by: tubitha on December 11, 2005, 10:55:43 AM

Hi Kevin

Some more pictures attached hopefully you can get a better look at the canes from these pictures our camera is not the best resolution so bear with us on this one.

http://tinypic.com/ifbadd.jpg
http://tinypic.com/ifbaf6.jpg
http://tinypic.com/ifbaj7.jpg
http://tinypic.com/ifbakm.jpg
http://tinypic.com/ifbamh.jpg
http://tinypic.com/ifbaqb.jpg
http://tinypic.com/ifbasp.jpg
http://tinypic.com/ifbax0.jpg

The stopper is a snug fit in the bottle not at all wobbly.

Thanks for the assistance on the other one do you have a date for the Perthshire one it has no P cane anywhere that we can see in the bottle, with quite a lot of wear to the base we wondered if it might be an early one?

Carol

Title: Ink Bottles
Post by: KevinH on December 12, 2005, 08:49:18 PM

Thanks for the good cane photos. A few are most likely early Vasart canes but the majority are of a type that I have only seen in the last few years of Strathearn work. Perthshire Paperweights also produced similar style canes from the mid-70s, but the ones here are consistent with signed Strathearn pieces.

However, as I said earlier, the actual maker (person or company) of items like these is mostly unknown. If your bottle had a UV reaction the same as regular Strathearn items, then I would be quite happy to say it was Strathearn, but I suspect the UV reaction will not match.

It's good that your bottle has a well-fitting stopper - the few I have seen have all been rather loose.

-----

For the other bottle I have no idea of the date and I would also stress that my possible PP attribution is really only a best guess.

Title: Ink Bottles
Post by: tubitha on December 13, 2005, 11:43:31 AM

Kevin

Thanks for the analysis of the ink bottles additionally I have couple which I think are Salvador Ysart, both have damage to the neck but otherwise are interesting pieces.

Would it be useful to post these up as well for you to have a look at the canes.

If so I will do so tonight.

Is there a place on any of the sites which deals with ink bottles I have looked but can't see any  pictures so may be looking in the wrong place?


Carol

Title: Ink Bottles
Post by: KevinH on December 14, 2005, 04:07:18 PM

Carole, please do post images of the other bottles.

The only web page I am aware of that compares (Scottish) millefiori Ink Bottles is my own at:
http://www.btinternet.com/~kevh.glass/pages/Inkwells/Inkwells.htm
The information is limited to discussion of styles and main features based on three "Vasart / Salvador" and two "Unknown Maker" items.

Title: Ink Bottles
Post by: tubitha on December 14, 2005, 10:01:50 PM

Kevin

On closer inspection and after reading your page I think these might be Vasart or one might be Salvador I am not sure.

Pictures attached as usual if you need more just let me know and I will supply these as well.

http://tinypic.com/imjyfl.jpg
http://tinypic.com/imjyns.jpg

Carol

Title: Ink Bottles
Post by: KevinH on December 19, 2005, 01:46:34 AM

Took me a while to get back to these latest two.

Until a couple of years ago, I had not seen bottles like these. But then a few came to light with a clear neck section and with that "flared" look to the rim and also the small "well" section in the body. UV checks showed they were not consistent with early Vasart but matched later Vasart / Strathearn. The canes are probably all early Vasart, though.

The pink-necked one is the first I have seen (I think) with a coloured neck rather than clear.

A broadly similar one with a clear neck is shown in the Scottish Paperweights book on page 47, but the stopper sits much lower than in the two shown here.