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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Murano & Italy Glass => Topic started by: bfg on July 18, 2012, 07:41:23 AM

Title: ID request please - white lidded & footed jar
Post by: bfg on July 18, 2012, 07:41:23 AM

hi all

so, I'm back again  coz I'm stuck ::) i've been researching this and a matching perfume atomiser for ages and am drawing a blank.

My general feeling is its 20s-40's, Italian and not milk or opaline glass.

The size is odd for a powder bowl - it's huge, almost 11 inches tall x 4 inches wide

So is it opalino? Flicking through L Pina's Italian Glass century 20 last night I found some similar lidded powder bowls that were identified as alabastro?

Or am I barking up the wrong tree completely?

heeelllpppp!

Cheers! from a frustrated Mel

Title: Re: ID request please - white lidded & footed jar
Post by: flying free on July 18, 2012, 07:51:53 AM

Maybe  for bath salts?  I would call it opaline not alabastro  :-\
I think there has been something on here about V Nason opaline powder jars etc as well.  Someone found one with a label.
m

Title: Re: ID request please - white lidded & footed jar
Post by: Ivo on July 18, 2012, 08:26:32 AM

it is for cotton balls and I would date it in the seventies. If it is heavy, think Nason. If it is light, think Empoli. The material seems to be opaline, which the Italians conveniently call albastro. Their "Opalina" is a combination of a translucent colour and a semiopaque milk glass - this aint it.

Title: Re: ID request please - white lidded & footed jar
Post by: bfg on July 18, 2012, 09:08:32 AM

thank you m and Ivo for your replies

aha! - cotton wool balls make sense (it was full of grotty powder when it came to me)

I had originally dismissed opaline as there is no 'fire' in the glass when held out to a strong light so that's interesting too

so, Ivo, what would you consider heavy for this piece please? it weighs 714g (25.2 oz)

many thanks
Mel

Title: Re: ID request please - white lidded & footed jar
Post by: flying free on July 18, 2012, 09:31:29 AM

you only get the 'fiery' glow if the opaline has been made with bone ash content as far as I know.  I'm not sure what the difference is between opaline made with bone ash (which has the fiery glow) and opaline glass not made with bone ash.  Is the content of bone ash the decider of whether or not the glass is opaline?  or is there also 'modern' opaline, made to look the same - i.e. is the definition of 'Opaline' "solid translucent colour glass" or is it "solid translucent colour glass with bone ash in the content"
m

Title: Re: ID request please - white lidded & footed jar
Post by: bfg on July 18, 2012, 09:35:08 AM

good question!

Title: Re: ID request please - white lidded & footed jar
Post by: Ivo on July 18, 2012, 09:54:28 AM

I'd go for semi opaque single colour glass. Bone ash was the old formula and shows up as a fiery glow - but since the mid 1800s arsenic was used which does not produce that glow and still counts as true opaline.

Title: Re: ID request please - white lidded & footed jar
Post by: flying free on July 18, 2012, 10:02:35 AM

Thanks Ivo...so was bone ash completely discontinued mid 19th? or did it continue in use along with arsenic?
I get confused because opalescent glass also has that fiery glow but presumably that is a function of a it being restruck? or is it?  Please feel free to tell me to read more books  ;D
m

Title: Re: ID request please - white lidded & footed jar
Post by: Ivo on July 18, 2012, 11:20:23 AM

There is no cut-off date when the ingredients were changed - some works did and some did not.   I have some glass here from Hoyerswerda circa 1930 and some parts of it glow like a canary and others do not - so the answer may not be simple and straightforward.

As for the ingredients of opalescent glass I'm 404 why it does what it does.

Title: Re: ID request please - white lidded & footed jar
Post by: flying free on July 18, 2012, 11:27:24 AM

ok, thanks  :)
m

Title: Re: ID request please - white lidded & footed jar
Post by: bfg on July 18, 2012, 11:50:03 AM

Ivo, you do make me giggle  :-*

I'm 404 by nature  ::)

Seriously, thanks for the info - it all helps

Mel