Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: glassobsessed on February 21, 2013, 04:43:21 PM
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For reference a Stevens and Williams Caerleon vase, circa 1930. It is a big old beast, 28cm tall and weighing in at 3kg. Applied snake, rim and foot, snapped pontil mark. Clear glass with small blobs of blue and green, iridescent. This shape mentioned on page 109, 20th Century British Glass by Charles Hajdamach, a couple of the other shapes are pictured on page 110.
I decided to snap a photo of it in the remains of the Roman amphitheatre down the road in Caerleon but had not anticipated several bus loads of schoolkids enacting a battle between Romans and Celts. Not sure if that was a Roman or a Celt creeping into the frame...
John
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I am now the same colour as the vase! ;D ;D
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Very beautiful!!!
Any chance of a very good close up of the decor please?
Many thanks :)
m
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The second photo is from inside looking out (through neck and rim), hard to see the bubbles otherwise, the little 'rivulets' are in the iridescence. Photo three shows the base from the inside.
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:-* thank you
So the colour flecks are 'in' the glass not on it? and then it has iridescence on it as well?
m
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Clear glass with marvered in blue and green frit, iridised finish, presumably fumed. A couple of bits of frit on the snake stand proud, there is a big bit visible in the very first photo. Smaller bits can be seen above the snakes right eye.
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Thanks :) I've been wondering for months how Caerleon was 'constructed'!
m
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wow... bleeping... WOW.
Is the applied rim a continuation of the snake's body, John? :)
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They are separate bits Sue.
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Interesting, thanks. :)
It would have been a difficult thing to achieve, a complete rim being the body as well, but when it's something of this quality and standard, I think such speculation is merited.
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I found some info on what I think is your vase.
In an article produced in 1975 by Mary Van Pelt she shows what looks like a picture of your vase or very similar (has snake on it, perhaps a different shape) and the caption says
'In 1929, Royal Brierly (sic) glassware line of Stevens & Williams was imported by John Davison, Inc. These Reptile vases came in 12 sizesand shapes.' Haven't checked to see if that ties in with Caerleon dates.
:)
m
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Date wise it does, according to Hajdamach production of Caerleon started in 1929. Reading between the lines, Stevens and Williams added more shapes and colours to the range after a year or two but it seems they were not produced for many more years as the fashion changed. Art Deco shapes became much more popular and no doubt the interest in archeology waned a bit after the discoveries in the mid twenties (Tutankhamun) and in 1928 at Caerleon.
I would take with a pinch of salt there being twelve reptile vases, twelve shapes all told seems more likely.
John