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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Max on March 17, 2005, 04:46:04 PM

Title: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: Max on March 17, 2005, 04:46:04 PM
I found this in the Cancer Research shop today.  It was terribly dirty, but it's cleaned up perfectly.  It's an interesting green colour and has vertical optic ribbing.  You can see the raspberry prunts and coiled snake-like strap to the neck.  Measures 5.5" high, there's a lot of age related wear to base, which has no pontil mark.  There's a teeny chip to one edge, otherwise perfect.
 
I know I shouldn't really keep putting things on here, but I'm a bit excited about this one!  I have looked in my Whitefriars book, but my book is quite generalised and misses a lot out.  
 
Here it is, just washed and still wet: http://tinypic.com/2965fp
Title: Re: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: Leni on March 17, 2005, 04:51:16 PM
Quote from: "Max"
I found this in the Cancer Research shop today.  

Oooh! You lucky girl!   :shock:
Quote
I know I shouldn't really keep putting things on here,

Whyever not?  :?   I thought it was what this board was for?  :roll:

Leni  :wink:
Title: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: RAY on March 17, 2005, 04:56:31 PM
yep a very good find, Harry Powell i think 1930's
Title: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: Max on March 18, 2005, 12:02:17 AM
Thanks Leni &  Ray.   :D

I've popped this piece over onto whitefriars.com to see what they say...I'm hoping it's a bit earlier than 1930's - not that I know a great deal about Whitefriars, I have to add!  It just feels....old....like me.   :lol:
Title: Could this be early powell,whitefriars?
Post by: Nigel Benson on March 18, 2005, 12:47:43 AM
Hello Max,

Sorry to disappoint, but I don't believe this to be Powell or Whitefriars. There are too many factors that suggest other manufacturers could have made it. Other than the general style there is little that suggests Powell.

Don't forget that this type of item is synonymous with a period rather than one company. Furthermore that period relies on historic pieces for its inspiration.

Factors like the milled trail and the raspberry prunts were used by various manufacturers and in a number of countries between around 1880 and the beginning of the First World War. In my opinion the ones on this vase are not consistent with Powell.

Unfortunately, there are also a number of manufacturers on the Continent who have reproduced pieces like this in recent years.

You don't tell us about the pontil, although I don't feel it critical to my opinion it may help point to the right direction. Is it broken or polished? If polished in what way? Regular/irregular, central, etc.?

Nigel Benson
www.20thcentury-glass.com
Title: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: Max on March 18, 2005, 08:29:46 AM
Hello Nigel  :D

Thanks for your considered reply, I can feel my little balloon deflating!  lol!

Actually...I was starting to wonder about this vase myself.  I think it's been blown into a mould, so there's no pontil mark to the base, but a lot of age wear.  I don't know....there's just something about it that makes me think you're right about it being of the same age, but not Whitefriars.  Maybe it's just that certain missing quality?  

I've popped it onto whitefriars.com, so it'll be interesting to see what they say there.  I put a note here when if I find out anything.

Oh, PS:  Nigel, I've got your little book with the green cover, and it's been very useful - thanks!    :D
Title: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: Max on March 18, 2005, 08:40:26 PM
Well, Steve Leslie over at our friends www.whitefriars.com also thought this item wasn't Whitefriars.  Thank you to him for his valuable input.

Obviously I'm a little upset that it isn't what I thought it was - but that's the game, isn't it?  Blimey.  I sound like a gambler or something!  :shock:

Love to all, thanks to peeps for their time.   :D
Title: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: PDA on March 19, 2005, 11:25:24 AM
It could turn out to be something better than Whitefrairs despite that company producing "arguably the best quality glass ever created in Britain." according to www.whitefriars.com
Title: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: Max on March 19, 2005, 12:48:47 PM
Quote
It could turn out to be something better than Whitefrairs


 :?: Would it be too much to ask what you mean by that, do you have a suggestion?   :?

Edit:  Just worked out, PDA was probably jesting.  Tut!
Title: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: PDA on March 19, 2005, 03:38:02 PM
No, sorry.
Just that Whitefriars isn't the be all and end all.
Thats all.
Title: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: Nigel Benson on March 20, 2005, 02:00:28 PM
Hi all,

Well said PDA. This is something that I've been pointing out to people for some years.

Of course, that's not to take away from either Powell's reputation, nor the quality of their work, but there is so much more available out there - much of which is still not researched and largely overlooked by most collectors. Some of it IS known and collected, but undervalued for its origin and quality.

I believe there is still a long way to go within collecting of British glass, in particular (which is, of course, my major subject area), and, not to suggest the rest of the world would be thoughtless - throughout the 20th century.

Happy hunting everyone, there's still a lot of fun to be had out there!!

Nigel Benson
www.20thcentury-glass.com
Title: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: Anne on September 28, 2006, 03:15:01 AM
Max, could you update the picture link - add the picture into GlassGallery please? Did you manage to find out more about this piece?
Title: Post subject
Post by: vidrioguapo on September 28, 2006, 11:57:15 AM
Well I'd like to see this piece very much but your tinypic link doesn't open for me Max, and neither can I see it on .com?  Am I really losing it after all?

Emmi
Title: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: Anne on September 28, 2006, 06:12:18 PM
Emmi it was an old post bumped up so the links need refreshing which is what I asked Max to do. Hopefully when she does you'll be able to see the pic. :)
Title: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: Max on September 28, 2006, 06:48:27 PM
Here it is:

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3475

The facts just didn't add up for this one in hindsight.  Still an interesting vase though with lots of age wear to the base.  No pontil mark, I should have realised this wasn't WF...but got a bit carried away.  :roll:

Edit:  Sold now - but only for what I paid for it..  :lol:
Title: Could this be early Powell, Whitefriars?
Post by: Anne on September 28, 2006, 10:31:29 PM
Thanks Max. :)
Title: Post subject
Post by: vidrioguapo on September 29, 2006, 08:02:02 AM
Easy to see why you were excited by this one Max, got a lot of similiarities to W/F that's for sure.  It's happened to me!! And I expect to lots of other collectors!  Emmi