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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: scavo on February 18, 2012, 04:31:53 PM

Title: Stuart Crystal Woodchester creamer crack w/ handle joins body
Post by: scavo on February 18, 2012, 04:31:53 PM
I bought this Stuart Crystal creamer knowing it has this flaw/damage. I don't collect Stuart but am aware that others do, so even with this flaw/damage, it may still be desirable to others?
I have seen a creamer on ebay for over £50 so presume this is quite a rare item?
The base has the etched 'Stuart England' on the base.

What I would like help with is accurately describing the flaw/damage so as not to mislead.

I believe that the damage could have occurred during production but that the annealing process should have prevented a crack like this. However, I would think that a prestige company like Stuart would have either a/ destroyed a cracked piece or b/ not put their name to a second. I would therefore conclude that the crack occurred after sale. I would then think that it must have been dropped, but there are no other signs of damage, chip or bruises.

Thoughts of collectors (or anyone for that matter) welcomed.

Title: Re: Stuart Crystal Woodchester creamer crack w/ handle joins body
Post by: Paul S. on February 18, 2012, 09:50:16 PM
quote......."I would then think that it must have been dropped"......I think you'd now have it in several separate pieces had it been dropped :)      I would suggest more likely 'knocked', perhaps heavily.     My personal opinion, as a collector of Stuart, is that regrettably the piece is worthless.     Had this been some rare item of glass, then maybe it would have some value still, but with this damage I would suggest not, and the crack might 'run' at any time, and Woodchester pieces are not rare, at least in my neck of the woods.   
Title: Re: Stuart Crystal Woodchester creamer crack w/ handle joins body
Post by: johnphilip on February 19, 2012, 08:16:51 AM
Having listed some on ebay a couple of months ago i agree with Paul some sold very cheaply some didnt sell at all . sorry  :cry:
Title: Re: Stuart Crystal Woodchester creamer crack w/ handle joins body
Post by: scavo on February 19, 2012, 11:12:46 AM
No problem. It isn't my thing and it came with a desert bowl that is perfect for a couple of quid. It will be fine in mother's china cabinet. It's good to get a feel for these things so when a biggie comes along I'll know the feel, and look. Is it always marked?
Title: Re: Stuart Crystal Woodchester creamer crack w/ handle joins body
Post by: johnphilip on February 19, 2012, 12:15:25 PM
No not always , i had two identical decanters one marked the other not . they both sold but were perfect .
Title: Re: Stuart Crystal Woodchester creamer crack w/ handle joins body
Post by: scavo on February 19, 2012, 03:00:52 PM
OK. Thanks. Am I right in thinking that Stuart mould, cut and engrave?

I have to post another thread to see if another piece I have is Stuart.
Title: Re: Stuart Crystal Woodchester creamer crack w/ handle joins body
Post by: Paul S. on February 19, 2012, 04:25:49 PM
Stuart produced masses of cut, engraved and mould blown wares.   Aside from the rather rare hand enamel coloured pieces (fruits, flowers and spiders on cocktail shakers etc.), and obviously all the clear glass material, I get the impression their colour palette was rather limited.   They seemed to have been very keen on green (light and dark) and amber, but there is virtually nothing else showing in the books.       Time you acquired some books ;)
Title: Re: Stuart Crystal Woodchester creamer crack w/ handle joins body
Post by: scavo on February 19, 2012, 07:09:51 PM
It is indeed time I acquired some books, Paul. Problem being my tastes are so eclectic.
Title: Re: Stuart Crystal Woodchester creamer crack w/ handle joins body
Post by: Paul S. on February 19, 2012, 07:32:03 PM
I know what you mean   -  there are people here with anything from 100 books and upwards, but I suspect there is maybe a core of 40 - 50 that are almost indispensable, although unfortunately no really substantial publication on Stuart.     If bought slowly over a period of couple of years say, you'd hardly notice the outlay, specially if you have an income from ebay to help. :)
Title: Re: Stuart Crystal Woodchester creamer crack w/ handle joins body
Post by: scavo on February 19, 2012, 09:47:43 PM
Paul, I had a library. I sold EVERYTHING, my collections bought in the 1980s, my library, my LPs, even vintage cold-weather clothing when I moved 1/2 way around the world in 2005. I'm starting from scratch again and have along way to catch up! I've taken your advice on the Hajdamach C20 book and would appreciate any other essentials you can recommend.
Title: Re: Stuart Crystal Woodchester creamer crack w/ handle joins body
Post by: Paul S. on February 19, 2012, 10:25:54 PM
yes...............................marry a rich woman ;)

Books wise, it does depend on what areas you collect, but certainly the one already mentioned (I don't find his other volume on C19 material half as useful).
You might consider the two volumes on Scandi glass by Leslie Pina
Jenny Thompson/Raymond Slack/the Stewarts/Raymond Notley for pressed glass
Miller's may get bad press on the GMB, but they can be a useful quick guide to finding similarities etc., and lots of fairly good pix of pieces you are likely to actually find (as opposed to museum exhibits).
you must have a good glass dictionary....Harold Newman
If you like uranium glass then you need the two Barrie Skelcher volumes
then there's Susan Tobin for Wedgwood...........Lesley Jackson for Whitefriars and Factory Glass (bit of a misnomer that title I always think).
Marcus Newhall's Sklo Union for Czechoslovakia
Leslie Pina again for Fifties Glass  -  bit of an overview on mid C20 Italian/Scandi art glass if you like your aventurine inclusions.
Silber & Fleming is a good guide to C19 designs and patterns of mostly utilitarian glass.
Re the cut glass matter, I don't yet have anything really good, so would like to hear other people's ideas myself.      I do have 'Art Deco to Post Modernism' - although this is a booklet only (and very useful indeed), but not a book in the real sense.

don't know what others might suggest, but most of the above would be helpful for generall collecting.
Title: Re: Stuart Crystal Woodchester creamer crack w/ handle joins body
Post by: johnphilip on February 20, 2012, 07:03:52 PM
20TH Century factory glass by Lesley Jackson is very good .