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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: Nick77 on July 18, 2012, 09:35:50 AM

Title: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: Nick77 on July 18, 2012, 09:35:50 AM

I have identified one of the canes in this weight on Richard More's site (red & Blue circles) as being Ysart/Vasart 1946 - 55 or possibly older.  Can anyone shed any further light on it's origins/age and what is the red ring within the base pontil area? It is 3 inches (75mm) diameter.

many thanks
Nick

Title: Re: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: tropdevin on July 18, 2012, 12:35:23 PM

***

Do I recognise it from a very recent auction? If so, I thought it was most probably an Ysart Bros period piece (ie 1946 - 1955), although KevH may tell me it is not!

Alan

Title: Re: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: Nick77 on July 18, 2012, 12:48:11 PM

Yes it was the piece you saw, any ideas on the red ring in the base?

Title: Re: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: KevinH on July 18, 2012, 05:16:53 PM

I agree with Alan.
And KevH won't say it is not ... unless it glows blue under shortwave uv!!

Any chance of a closeup photo of the red ring thingy?

Title: Re: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: Nick77 on July 18, 2012, 06:43:53 PM

Thanks both, I'll try and get a close up of the ring tomorrow, it appears to be a thin edged glass ring as if a thin tube of red glass had been attached. I don't currently have a uv lamp, must get one or do I need long and shortwave?

Title: Re: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: Nick77 on July 19, 2012, 09:09:41 AM

Close up photos of red ring in base as requested.

Title: Re: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: tropdevin on July 19, 2012, 09:39:24 AM

***

Hi Nick.  My guess it is the remnants of a coating of fairly fresh red rust on the pontil rod, most of which was removed when the pontil mark was smoothed. Pieces of old black iron scale are quite common in the base of green glass dumps.  If you use a stainless steel pontil rod it doesn't happen!

Alan

Title: Re: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: Lustrousstone on July 19, 2012, 09:59:26 AM

I would expect rust to be converted back to iron (i.e., black scale) by the heat of the furnace when the rod was attached to the weight and for it to have been removed by the grinding, Scale is generally only found on unground pontil marks. I suggest a bit of red glass on the rod.

Title: Re: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: tropdevin on July 19, 2012, 10:35:09 AM

***

Hi Christine.

That sounds more likely!

Alan

Title: Re: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: Nick77 on July 19, 2012, 12:03:06 PM

Thanks both I think that's the most likely and the grinding with a small diameter wheel or burr was an attempt to remove it I guess, but is too deep in the base.

Nick

Title: Re: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: theglassnut on July 20, 2012, 04:35:56 PM

Hi Folks,
 Amongst my large collection of paperweights i have 2 Vasart/Ysart Bros weights with ground bases, both weights have a crescent shape left behind after grinding, (sorry i can't add pics as i no longer have my own pc) embedded in the crescents is a red dust, i assumed this was polishing compound. is this a possibility?

http://www.tyflong.com/docs/tyrox90.pdf

Regards Stephen...

Title: Re: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: Nick77 on July 20, 2012, 05:35:41 PM

Not sure with your weights but in mine the red ring is still 2-3mm embedded in the base clear glass, so I think the red glass being on the end of the pontil rod is the most likely.

Nick

Title: Re: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: Sach on July 22, 2012, 02:58:43 AM

Early in the century final polishing was done with rouge rather than cerium as it is now.  You red powder may well be from the polishing process.

Title: Re: Ysart/Vasart or older?
Post by: Lustrousstone on July 22, 2012, 08:50:19 AM

But it wouldn't polish into the glass; you are removing a thin layer of glass with the cerium. The powder might stay in a "crack" but then you could remove it by poking or washing it out.