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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: agincourt17 on February 09, 2013, 08:05:15 PM

Title: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: agincourt17 on February 09, 2013, 08:05:15 PM

I recently bought this piece on Ebay purely on the basis that it was listed as bearing a diamond registration date mark for 1846, and I couldn’t recall ever seeing any piece of glass pre-1849 with a registration mark.

It is round shallow bowl or dish (just over 4cm deep) with straight sides that taper outwards and then develop into a flared rim (9.3cm top rim diameter). It has a short stem that broadens at the bottom into a short step joining the round foot (7cm rim diameter). The floor of the bowl is slightly conical, and at the centre is a conical hole (about 5mm diameter at the top and extending into the centre of the stem for about 8mm). The surface of this conical hole is roughened. The underside of the foot rim has a deeply-impressed diamond registration date mark for 26 June 1846 – Parcel 3.

The glass itself is quite thick, and there are no signs of any mould marks or seams. The whole piece appears to be either free-blown, or possibly initially mould-blown before the formation of the stem and foot. There is a small slag inclusion in the side of the bowl. The underside of the foot is slightly hollow, and there is a snapped –off pontil mark in the centre. The diamond registration mark must have been impressed with some sort of tooled stamp after the foot was finished because the stamping of rim at that point has squashed and distorted it somewhat.

There is only a single glass design registration on 26 June 1846; the registrant was Jonas Defries, Houndsditch, [London], and the RD number was 35778.  The National Archives registration summary describes the subject as a Night Lamp.

Without the diamond registration mark, the piece would simply have appeared to have been something like an unsophisticated sweetmeat dish with a strange conical hole in the centre of the bowl base. There is a small conchoidal chip to the interior edge of the bowl rim, but there are very few signs of age or wear to the bowl or the underside of the foot.

I’m not at all conversant with antique glass lamps and lighting, and am not sure if this  night lamp is more-or-less complete as it stands. There is no sign of any way of securely attaching a shade. Might it have had a metal stand of some kind? Did the hole in the bottom of the bowl act as some kind of attachment point for a wick? Would it have been a candle lamp, or would it have been fuelled by some type of oil?

Comments or suggestions invited. Please?

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: agincourt17 on February 09, 2013, 08:08:51 PM

And a couple of photos of the rough-edged conical hole in the centre of the bowl interior.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Paul S. on February 09, 2013, 10:14:29 PM

Suppose there must be a few pieces out there that are dated in the early to mid 1840's since Registrations started in September 1842.

Can't offer any serious or positive comments other than to suggest that next time I go to Kew I will look at the Representations and take a pic. of the whole unit, assuming there is more than one piece.

I suppose you could have a thin spike of sorts that projected up from the hole, and onto which a candle might be fixed, or perhaps a wick?        I'm not very well up on night lights/lamps, and only have two rather ordinary sorts where the top half sits, conventionally, on the inside of a raised lip which forms part of the base - one a Clarke and of all things a Royal Brierley.
Suppose there might have been variations whereby the top sat outside of the base, possibly, or maybe there simply wasn't a top.

Must admit the lozenge impression does look unusual  -  do you get any feeling that this piece might not be genuine??     Although uncommon, snapped pontils do occur on pressed pieces, and the seed would not be out of place.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: agincourt17 on February 10, 2013, 10:01:12 AM

I have no reason to suppose that the piece is not genuine. It came with a genuine 1872 Sowerby sugar bowl, the seller had been listing whole batches of mixed mid-Victorian tableware for several weeks without any real idea of what he was listing beyond reading (or sometimes mis-reading) the year indicator on the lozenges, and the opening listing prices were purely nominal. The chip on the rim of the bowl is certainly genuine. I've had another look at the underside of the foot (with a lens this time) - the underside is quite domed, so that the only point of contact is the extreme edge of the rim, which does show some wear marks. There are also some very small slag inclusions that match those in the bowl.

Thank you for your kind offer to check the registration details at Kew - that is obviously the definitive next move. I look forward to the results.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Lustrousstone on February 10, 2013, 11:32:37 AM

I don't think it's pressed Paul

Quote

The whole piece appears to be either free-blown, or possibly initially mould-blown before the formation of the stem and foot.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Paul S. on February 10, 2013, 12:12:03 PM

ooppps  -  sorry, you're right.        Must admit I still tend to associate lozenges only with pressed pieces since they normally form part of the mould (in relief) - so I used the word pressed without thinking.       Thanks for pointing out the error of my ways ;)

Fortunately, this shouldn't affect the details at TNA, and fingers crossed more information might be forthcoming when I've been to Kew.
Certainly this is a most unusual and interesting object.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Paul S. on February 10, 2013, 12:24:09 PM

quote..............."they normally form part of the mould (in relief)"..........     absolute rubbish of course.....     they're in relief on the glass :-[

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Anne on February 10, 2013, 07:56:04 PM

They also come in engraved form Paul (although not as common as you say) - see this example:
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-11719

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Paul S. on February 10, 2013, 10:13:40 PM

thanks Anne  -   I think my words about being uncommon might have referred to the snapped pontils on pressed glass, when I got all confused :)    Must admit I've not seen one of these hand inscribed examples of lozenges.         

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Paul S. on February 13, 2013, 08:14:53 PM

Details from The National Archives at Kew, for Rd. No. 35778, are.....................
The Representations reference (for the image) is BT 43/60** and for the Register (the text) it's BT 44/7  -  pix as attached.

Whether it was a candle or wick is not clear, although it looks rigid, so maybe a candle - and again not clear as to quite what the orangey brown shading represents  -  water possibly?
However, very happy to confirm that the design consists of only the one part, so nothing lost or missing.

Quite mind blowing to look at the hand written script  -  those guys really knew how to produce copperplate handwriting.

P.S.     **This particular 'Representations' book is one of the most interesting I've seen  -  many important Registrations by some big names - such as Chance and Richardson, and many exotic and colourful pieces of glassware.    It seems that coloured bottles were on a roll, plus a massive candelabrum by Osler (Rd. 64320)

Mod: see below for images to accompany this post

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Paul S. on February 13, 2013, 08:56:02 PM

Problems with the watermarking  -   which I think should now be o.k.     Grateful if all the duff images are removed - thanks. :)

Mod: duff images removed as requested Paul

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: agincourt17 on February 13, 2013, 10:14:53 PM

My profuse thanks for your magnificent efforts again at Kew, Paul.

This little night lamp may not look like much,  but I think it is probably the earliest extant piece of British glass (pressed or hand blown) bearing a registration lozenge - unless one of our redoubtable GMB members knows otherwise.

It is imteresting that you mention Osler's candelabrum as appearing in the same 'Representations' book, because Defries & Sons went on to become  manufacturers of very high quality chandeliers that held their own alongside those of Osler and Baccarat (see below).

A little time spent with Professor Google has revealed a few facts about Jonas Defries & Sons that might be shed light (pun!) on the development of this humble little lamp into some of the most opulent chandeliers ever seen.

There is a Notice in the Jewish Chronicle that Jonas Defries died on 24 August 1860 at his residence, 147 Houndsditch, in his 55th year. There are also numerous notes about members of his family, including mention of three sons, Moss, Coleman, and Nathan.

In November1866, there was a court case at the Central Criminal Court where Moss Defries was the chief prosecuting witness. He described himself as “a chandelier manufacturer, carrying on business with my brothers in Commercial Street, Whitechapel.
There is an undated illustrated trade card for

J. Defries & Sons
Crystal glass Chandelier Manufacturers.

Lamps for India and other Markets

Manufactories, London & Paris

Birmingham Show Rooms,
Exchange Chambers, Carrs Lane.

Swan & Wade, Agents

Between 26 June 1846 and 7 June 1883, the following designs were registered by either by Jonas Defries or Jonas Defries and Sons , all of Houndsditch, and most with an address of 147 Houndsditch, City, London:

35778      26 June 1846 – P3    Night lamp

50942      18 March 1848     Reflector
50943      18 March 1848     Reflector
50944      18 March 1848  Reflector
51882      10 May 1848    The Brilliant Reflector

73917      29 November 1850   Holder for mortars or night lights

84137      4 March 1852      Pine Moon reflector
84138      $ March 1852      Moon reflector
85540      29 June 1852      Instrument applied to the tops of candles

93185      5 November 1853   Design for lamp glass

96543      2 August 1854      Shade for moderateur lamp to be called “Globe and Tulip” shade
96898      21 September 1854   Glass hydraulic chandelier
97249      17 October  1854   Glass chandelier for moderateur and candle lamp to be called  the “Victorian Chandelier”

103739   13 February 1856   Stand for moderator and other lamps

109909   14 May 1857      A mirror to be the “Prism Mirror”

130975   20 March 1861   Gas shade to be called “Prismatic Moon”
139706   20 March 1861   Gas shade to called the “Albert Moon”

158400   15 December 1862   No subject
158401   15 December 1862   No subject

170523   24 December 1863   “Alhambra” chandelier for India
170524   24 December 1863   Registered prismatic chandelier
170526   26 December 1863   Registered crystal candelabrum

180385   25 October 1864   No subject

21696      21 February 1868   No subject
216997   21 February 1868   No subject
223307   21 October 1868   No subject

277150   13 October 1873   No subject

320276   9 April 1878      No subject

358798   23 November 1880   No subject
359104   29 November 1880   No subject
359237   3 December 1880   No subject
359238   3 December 1880   No subject
359239   3 December 1880   No subject

360486   7 January 1881   No subject
360487   7 January 1881   No subject
361810   16 February 1881   No subject
368638   19 August 1881   No subject
374432   6  December 1881   No subject
374773   15 December 1881   No subject

378298   28 March 1882   No subject
378997   29 March 1882   Electrolier
382838   1 July 1882      No subject
383007   5 July 1882      No subject
387075   26 September 1882   No subject
387076   26 September 1882   No subject
387077   26 September 1882   No subject

399063   7 June 1883      No subject

Although describing themselves as manufacturers of chandeliers, there is no record at
http://www.glassmaking-in-london.co.uk/glasshouses
of Defries having a glass works, so they may well simply have bought in blank pieces from other glasshouses for final finishing in their own cutting or polishing shops.

Defries does not appear to have exhibited at the great 1851 exhibition at crystal Palace, but at the Paris exhibition of 1867 the small British contingent was represented mainly by Powell & sons and J. Defries who exhibited some ornate chandeliers.

It is interesting that Defries’s trade card makes particular mention that they manufactured “Lamps for India and other Markets”, because there is an Anglo-Indian Defries emerald glass Hundi hall lantern at
http://pinterest.com/pin/264727284316151378/
featuring an emerald blown glass globe with brass terminal, all suspended by a metal collar, chains and glass smoke cap. Originally used for candles, this fixture could be easily electrified with a candle socket.

By the late 1870s, furniture for Eastern nobility was made by several European companies that specialized in this area of production. The principal manufacturers were F. & C. Osler in Birmingham, England, and Baccarat in France. Other English companies that made glass lighting and furniture for the Eastern market were Jonas Defries & Sons of London and the Coalbourne Hill Glass Works near Stourbridge. For the rest of the 19th century, world’s fairs continued to display chandeliers, glass cabinets, and chairs designed by Osler, Jonas Defries & Sons of London, and Baccarat of France.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: agincourt17 on February 13, 2013, 10:29:22 PM

Looking at the details of the registration drawing, I suspect that the brown / orange represents some type of lamp oil (perhaps even some type of paraffin if it existed at the time). The central 'wick' may possibly have been a cylindrical brass of copper fitment that was fixed or glued in some way into the hole in the centre of the bowl base, partially encasing an absorbent cylindrical wick to stop it collapsing as the level of the lamp oil fell during the nght (and also, of course, keeping the actual flame safely clear of the oil's surface).

Is this a reasonable thesis?

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Lustrousstone on February 14, 2013, 07:21:24 AM

Sounds a reasonable thesis to me. The colour makes sense for oil

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Paul S. on February 14, 2013, 09:27:11 AM

Yes, I'd also agree with this hypothesis ;)        In fact shortly after I'd made the ill conceived comment about water, it occured to me that the shading was more likely to have been a fuel of some description.           Unfortunately, there was nothing in either the Register or the Representations books describing the mechanics of the lamp.

During the very early Victorian period, the provision of light was a vastly important factor in the lives of ordinary people - no less than ourselves, of course - but whereas we take it for granted, the folks in 1846 doubtless spent more time conceiving of ways to distribute and use what for them was a vital and precious commodity.      Perhaps we should try occasionally the humbling experience of living with candles for a few evenings. ;D
This particular Representations books had many entries for lamps, lenses, shades etc., which shows the concern they had for extracting the best from what little light sources they had.

Again, my apologies for the gaffs re watermarking, and hope the Mods can tidy up - thanks.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Frank on April 01, 2014, 10:44:15 AM

The Defries family of Aldgate were merchants. Jonas's father was a wholesaler of glass shades so presumably it was his descendants that got involved in lighting glass as makers. An H (possibly Henry) Defries had a patents related to glass manufacturing. Will check out more on them when I can get to my refs.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: agincourt17 on April 01, 2014, 01:15:06 PM

Thank you, Frank.

Fred.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Frank on April 03, 2014, 12:59:12 PM

http://www.tolliss.com/gedview/individual.php?pid=I12143&ged=Tolliss.ged
Jonas = Glass Dealer
kids
Henry = not stated but patents in his name
Coleman = Chandelier manufacturer & Merchant
Julia, Nathan & Samuel occupation not given.
next generation Finance.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: flying free on April 04, 2014, 07:53:53 PM

P.S.     **This particular 'Representations' book is one of the most interesting I've seen  -  many important Registrations by some big names - such as Chance and Richardson, and many exotic and colourful pieces of glassware.    It seems that coloured bottles were on a roll, plus a massive candelabrum by Osler (Rd. 64320)

Paul, sorry to interrupt the thread, but did you notice any opaline glass pieces for Richardson's in this book at all please?
And specifically aso any that were a deep bright azure blue - aka my etruscan vase?
m

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Paul S. on April 04, 2014, 09:39:29 PM

not specifically opaline  -  the Registrations are concerned with recording shapes, designs and patterns belonging simply to CLASS 3 rather than detailing what type of glass.
Certainly this group includes the well known Richardson transfer printed Registered designs of Greek/Roman figures which Gulliver includes at the back of his book, and which I'm sure we've had some posted here in the past.

I've rather a busy weekend coming up, but will look for you in the next few days - do we know if it's possible to narrow down the search to within a part of this series of Nos.??     
I'll also need to look again at your Etruscan vase  -  so please remind me of the link if you can :)

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: flying free on April 05, 2014, 12:23:33 AM

Hi Paul and thank you :)

brain now in gear and I know what you mean.  The link to my vase is below.  I suppose I was just wondering if you'd come across anything shaped like my vase,  specified in colour maybe, but also if you'd noticed any pic similar to the enamel on my vase.  I can't think there will be anything about the vase, other than that, that is registered for any reason.
The dates/no's in Gulliver's run from example 43424 Jul 6 1847 (etruscan prints) to 52328 June 6 1848 which is a jug with a flowering pattern of water lilies and leaves that I believe might have used the same kind of enamels as the 'fawn' on my vase.
I suppose it might be possible the shape of the vase could be in there somewhere, especially the cupped rim.
The link is here.  I'm 99.9% sure the vase is Richardson but unfortunately my conclusions are the last, as not had any replies from queries I've sent elsewhere that either confirm fully or dissent.  The only way I will get any closer than that is to go myself and check the Richardson pattern books, but even that is most unlikely to happen.
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,53085.msg301507.html#msg301507
Thank you again.  Whenever you next go, if it is possible to give a quick check, that would be very much appreciated.  Many thanks :)
m

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: agincourt17 on April 05, 2014, 04:43:39 PM

A thick and heavy tumbler in amethyst / aubergine pressed glass, the flared sides having a broad plain rim above a chunky hobnail pattern; 4 inches tall.

(Permission for the re-use of these images on the GMB granted by wight-boy33).

The base bears the registry date lozenge for 7 June 1883 – Parcel 20 (though the date letter is indistinct, so the lozenge reads ? – K – M – 20). The only design registration for that date was RD 399063, and the registrant was J. Defries & Sons, London.

The base is also marked ½ P (presumably ½ pint capacity) and DEPOSE (the French term for registered). Although Derfries was the design registrant, the DEPOSE mark on the base might seem to point to a French manufacturer.

This appears to be the final Defries family glass design registration (see my reply #11 above).

The online design registration summary from The National Archives does not give a subject, so it seems rather out of the Defries run of registrations to have a coloured tableware piece rather than a lighting-related registration, though Jonas Defries & sons is known to have supplied coloured lantern glasses for the Indian trade (also in my rely #11).

If Paul S. happens by this post, I wonder if he might have the design representation to RD 399063 to hand in confirmation of the registration details, please?

Fred.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: flying free on May 06, 2016, 08:06:19 PM

I'm not sure where to put this so have put it here

It appears Defries and Sons produced glass furniture and were competitors to Osler

'Glass furniture from companies like Osler (and its British competitors, Defries & Sons and the Coalbourne Hill Glass Works) had another distinct advantage. Because the glass cutting was geometric, not figural, the decoration was acceptable to Muslim rulers.'
Source NY Times 16 June 2006

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Paul S. on May 07, 2016, 09:09:46 AM

couple of years late I'm afraid Fred  -  but on the assumption this may still have some interest for you, attached is a watermarked and resized image of the original drawing held by The National Archives at Kew for the Defries Rd. 399063 dated 7th June 1883 - and address is 147 Houndsditch as you've already mentioned.                There is no mention on the original drawing, or in the single volume Register, to suggest where this was made, but I'd agree with you that the word Depose appears to confirm this tumbler was made outside the U.K.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: agincourt17 on May 08, 2016, 09:08:34 PM

Thank you for showing the RD 399063  design representation, Paul - every little bit of definitive information helps.

Fred.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: neilh on January 21, 2017, 09:35:44 PM

I've come across an 1867 advert for Defries, it reads thus:

TABLE GLASS, ENGRAVED AND CUT, DINNER, DESSERT, AND BREAKFAST WARE; CRYSTAL AND BRONZED AND ORMOLU CHANDELIERS.

Notice of removal - J Defries and Sons have removed from their temporary premises, Commercial Street, Whitechapel, to their new City show rooms, 147 HOUNDSDITCH, N.E., where they have for inspection, in their Six new Show-rooms, an entirely new assortment of CRYSTAL & BRONZED CHANDELIERS; cut, engraved, and jewelled Table Glass, Dinner, Dessert, and Tea Services; Jet and other Ornaments for Dining and Drawing-rooms, Exhibition Flower Vases, Tazzas, Lustres, etc. Lamps of every description for India and other markets.

Established 1803

WORKS - LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, AND PARIS

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: agincourt17 on January 21, 2017, 09:52:14 PM

Thank you, Neil.

All information gratefully received.

Fred.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: agincourt17 on May 06, 2017, 08:51:56 PM

Another Jonas Defries & Sons design to show.

A substantial press-mouded flint glass pedestal vase with the registry date lozenge for 7 January 1881 - Parcel 15.  Decorated with a pair of heads depicting an Indian elelphant. Measures 24cm tall, with a base diameter of 13.5cm and a top rim diameter of 13cm .
(Permission for the re-use of these images on the GMB granted by pottman321)

Jonas Defries and Sons , 147 Houndsditch, City, London, registered 2 designs for glass items on 7 January 1881 - Parcel 15: registered designs numbers 360486 and 360487; see reply #11 in this thread for a list of Defries design registrations


Unfortunately, the online design registration summaries from TNA don't give a subject for either RD so I can't tell which of the 2 designs relates to the vase.

There is no record of Defries having a glass works, so I imagine that the manufacture of the vase was subcontracted out (though I have no idea to whom).

Describing themselves as, among other things, manufacturers of  'lamps for India and other markets',  I find it interesting that the elephants on the vase have an obvious connection to Defries' other items for the Anglo-Indian market.

Fred.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Paul S. on May 07, 2017, 08:07:41 AM

this pedestal vase, with the elephant's heads, is Rd. 360487  -  and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but assuming this is all there is then it's missing its lid  -  both Registrations were produced with lids.
I have Kew images for both 360486 and 487, and will post this afternoon some time  -  the first of these two numbers is even more artistically impressive, and shows  -  dare I use the expression, mermaids with bare breasts  -  to be viewed only by those over 18!

Coming back to Fred's long list of Defries Registrations, in post No. 11, many of these I would have purposefully not photographed  -  lamp chimneys and light reflectors etc. are not, in my opinion, the sort of items that people wanted for the Board's archive.         Some, however, whilst irrelevant to our interests, are truly impressive and very colourful - so in the coming days I'll try to post some of those to show how diverse these people were in their marketing strategy.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: flying free on May 07, 2017, 08:20:13 AM

Fred, if there is no record of Defries having a glass works, the advert Neil described might indicate where but not who.
That purple colour reminds me of some Sevres pieces but it's pressed.  I don't know if they made pressed glass.

'Established 1803

WORKS - LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, AND PARIS '



And the article I copied from the NYT as below but is not indicative of where their glass was made either:

'Glass furniture from companies like Osler (and its British competitors, Defries & Sons and the Coalbourne Hill Glass Works) had another distinct advantage. Because the glass cutting was geometric, not figural, the decoration was acceptable to Muslim rulers.'
Source NY Times 16 June 2006

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: Paul S. on May 07, 2017, 03:12:01 PM

a shame that the process of watermarking reduces some of the sharpness of the image - this is the best I can do for 360486/87.

As a personal comment, 360486 at least, reminds me of the style (dolphins and semi-naked sirens) - that eventually in mid 1930s of the C20 - became the sort of heavily moulded 3D modelling of the Barolac (Czechoslovakian) moulds, although appreciate these aren't opalescent.
I know that there's a vast date gap between the two, but the similarity is noticeable  -  do we know if these was any press-moulded glass coming into the U.K., from Czechoslvakia, during the 1880s?

P.S.    edited:    to delete any reference to Czechoslovakia in the 1880s  -  Sunday's beverages trying to re-write history  -  there wasn't such a country as Czechoslovakia until 1919 (I think) .............   so the possibility of an eastern European origin should have referred to Bohemia, possibly.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: agincourt17 on May 07, 2017, 03:54:30 PM

Thank you, Paul for design representations for Defries RDs 360486 and 360487.

I will enhance the contrast and clarity of the images before I upload them to the GMB RD database.

That RD 360486 covered vase is certainly late Victorian extravagance - and then some. The modelling is so heavy that it must have needed consummate skill to make the moulds let alone great skill by the glass workers to produce a good pressing from the mould. I wonder if I shall ever see an example or even photos of the finished article?

I certainly look forward to seeing some more Defries design representations in due course.

Fred.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: crocus on June 14, 2017, 08:38:12 PM

Hi, I'm new to this. I came across this thread while looking for info on J. DeFries and Sons as I have two illumination lamps/fairy lights by this company. They are embossed around the top J.DEFRIES & SONS H'DITCH P.P & REGD but there is no number on them. I'd say they are tulip form with a very narrow base and one has a flat area on the back, presumably so it would sit better if used against a wall. I've not seen this feature in any other fairy light nor another fairy light by this company. I'd love to know a date for these, if that is possible.
As I'm sure many of you know the best known figural lights were made by the Hearn Wright Co, including one in tulip form, for Victoria's jubilee in 1887. I think that light features in another thread on the board.
I recently came on a notice in a newspaper from Feb 1887 placed by Hearn Wright "to draw attention to the unscrupulous methods at present being adopted by certain foreign houses in imitating their lamps" and urging the public to buy British made.
Of course I wondered if DeFries might be one of the complained of companies, but that would require a registration date in late 1886 or very early 1887.
Hope someone can help or if not that you will like seeing another design by this company, though a much rougher object.

Title: Re: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp
Post by: agincourt17 on June 15, 2017, 06:42:15 PM

Thank you for showing these, Crocus.

I can't find any other photos of Defries fairy / candle lamps.

Presumably 'P.P.' is Patent Pending.

Unfortunately, with a the exceptions of RD 360486, & 360487 (discussed recently) and  RD 378997 of March 1882 - the subjects of the Defries glass design registrations from 1864 right through to their final design registration in 1883 are not given in the online registration summaries at The National Archives (see topic reply #11), so I'm not able to tell which designs may have been for fairy lights or candle lamps,

By the way, I've just unearthed a few more facts about Defries:

The Defries Lamp and Oil Company Ltd. was the subject of liquidation proceedings some time between 1889 and 1893, and Wanzer & Defries Patent Safety Lamp Manufacturing Co Ltd. (the first occupants of the newly-developed 101, Farringdon Road, London, in 1887)  was the subject of winding-up proceedings in 1892.

Richard Mott Wanzer was born in America in 1818. In 1860 he began to  manufacture of sewing machines in Hamilton, Ontario - the first sewing machines made in Canada. However, increased competition  from American manufacturers, poor tariff protection, overproduction, and a sharp drop in demand during the depression of the 1880s severely damaged the company. In the mid-1880s, in order to raise funds to bolster his business, he joined with Robert Hitchcock to manufacture a range of Mechanical Kerosene Lamps which used a concealed clockwork motor in the base to turn a fan in order to maintain a continuous flow of air between the wick tube and the draft deflector of the burner; chimneys were not required with these lamps. Wanzer mechanical lamps were made in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, from 1886 to 1900 by the Wanzer Lamp Co., and it appears that the Wanzer & Defries lamps were 'London' made/sold variants. None of Wanzer’s subsequent ventures – the lamp company, a soap factory, or the Oneida Lamp Company in Niagara Falls – proved successful. In 1898 a financially ruined Wanzer left Hamilton for Buffalo, planning to open the Wanzer Lamp and Cooker Company there. He died of pneumonia in New York City on 23 March 1900.

Despite the winding-up of the Lamp and Oil companies, J. Defries & Sons were still trading from 146 & 147 Houndsditch, London, in 1903. See: http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/J._Defries_and_Sons

Fred.