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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Max on March 07, 2007, 05:16:28 PM

Title: Large engraved crystal claret/amphora
Post by: Max on March 07, 2007, 05:16:28 PM
I had my eye on this item:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250088332605

I actually emailed the seller to ask for postage to the UK, little knowing the price it would eventually go for. <shock horror!> :o  I was thinking it was English, probably Victorian, but despite seeing the names Richardson and Northwood in my decanter book I have no idea who it's by.  Does anyone have a clue?


Title: Re: Large engraved crystal claret/amphora
Post by: Andy on March 07, 2007, 11:00:10 PM
Max,
Nice, I think thats 'Rock' Crystal, probably a Stourbridge maker c 1880,
maybe Webb or Stevens & Williams, but i believe there were some American
makers as well.
Rock crystal has a lot of specialist collectors, and they fetch large sums :o

Andy :D

ps looking at the buyer, Steuben may have had a hand in it !
Title: Re: Large engraved crystal claret/amphora
Post by: Nancy128 on March 08, 2007, 04:14:44 AM
You know what I think is really interesting other than that was a beautiful decanter... was that you could see the bidders.  Over here in the US anything over $200 the bidders go to numbers.  It's suprising to see that even though this was a US eBay auction, you could see the winner bidder plus the competitors.  Wonder why? 
Nancy
Title: Re: Large engraved crystal claret/amphora
Post by: Piper on March 08, 2007, 04:59:46 AM
...even though this was a US eBay auction, you could see the winner bidder plus the competitors.  Wonder why? 
Nancy
Maybe just a glitch on the site. Beautiful piece of glass though. It does have that Steubin look so maybe it is steubin.
Title: Re: Large engraved crystal claret/amphora
Post by: a40ty on March 08, 2007, 07:03:33 AM
It's a beautiful piece of glass indeed and the motif is very accurate. The only slight deviations are the angle of the figure, she should be tilted slightly downwards towards her right and the owl should be a little further away from her gown. But that is most certainly due to lack of space. The twp children she is carrying are Sleep and Death.
Title: Re: Large engraved crystal claret/amphora
Post by: Bernard C on March 08, 2007, 09:59:07 AM
Quote from: Andy
... I think thats 'Rock' Crystal ...

Andy — No, it's not Rock Crystal, which is quite distinct from this engraved work, although it can carry similar fine engraving.   Rock Crystal is deeply carved ornamentation on a thick, heavy, completely hand-blown blank.

See Hajdamach or Wolfenden.

Bernard C.  8)
Title: Re: Large engraved crystal claret/amphora
Post by: Andy on March 08, 2007, 10:17:40 AM
Thanks Bernard,
I should have opened my books before my mouth :-X
Still, 3 out of 10 for effort!
Andy
 ;)
Title: Re: Large engraved crystal claret/amphora
Post by: Bernard C on March 09, 2007, 05:13:57 AM
Andy — At least you were making a sensible suggestion.  There are no problems with me over that.

I have had just one example of genuine Rock Crystal through my hands, a wineglass.   I knew it was Rock Crystal when I picked it up;  it was so heavy that it stayed on the table and my arm stretched!   It was a very close match of Wolfenden plate 12 in both shape and decoration, which provided both the engraver's name, J. Palme of Thomas Webb, and a date, c. 1912.   I was tempted to keep it, as it was such a fabulous item, but a collector paid me enough to make me part with it.

Don't expect to make your fortune with Rock Crystal.   There are very few collectors, and prices are correspondingly low.   It might be a good time to collect it.

It's well worth investing in Ian Wolfenden's little illustrated exhibition catalogue.   I rate it as a 5-star reference work, and own three copies, all three easily cost-justified by my one acquisition and sale.  Broadfield House Glass Museum may have stock.

Finally, please always let me know if you find a genuine example of Rock Crystal.   I might be able to facilitate a quick sale, or might even decide to buy it for myself!

Bernard C.  8)