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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: agincourt17 on January 03, 2013, 10:05:33 PM

Title: Sowerby ‘Peacock’ vase – with a vengeance!
Post by: agincourt17 on January 03, 2013, 10:05:33 PM
I know that Sowerby used the a peacock head as their trademark, but I can’t recall seeing such a ‘peacocky’ Sowerby piece before.

An exquisitely-detailed Sowerby pressed jet glass pedestal fan vase in the form of a peacock displaying its magnificent tail.  From the front, the relief representation of the peacock is quite naturalistic, showing details of the bird’s body and of the fanned tail feathers with their ‘eyes’.  The rear view of the peacock is much more stylised – the ‘rear end’ of the bird has transformed into an acanthus leaf within a beaded oval border, and each of the tail ‘feathers’ is decorated in detailed relief with naturalistic floral sprays. The underside of the foot bears the Sowerby peacock head trademark. 
 
Dimensions: approx. 7.5 inches tall - main body measures approx. 7 x 2.5 inches - foot diameter approx. 3.5 inches.

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

Obviously Sowerby (from the trademark), and post-1876 (from the introduction date of the trademark). I’m presuming a date of no later than 1890 (assuming that by then the vogue for jet glass was declining).
 
No registration marks to guide me, and I can’t see a similar piece in the Sowerby pattern books, or in Cottle, Hajdamach, Thompson, Slack or Manley. I no longer have copies of Murray or Lattimore to hand, and googling seems to have drawn a blank.

Any comments, suggestions, or guidance, please?
Title: Re: Sowerby ‘Peacock’ vase – with a vengeance!
Post by: mhgcgolfclub on January 03, 2013, 11:37:13 PM
I have seen several of these over the last few years. The first one I saw I had a good look over it. My first thought was Sowerby but the one I looked at was not signed or marked so I was unsure as to the maker at the time but this one is Sowerby as marked.

I did not not really check the last couple I saw so cannot say if they were marked or not. I must keep my eyes open in future and check if I see another one.

Roy
Title: Re: Sowerby ‘Peacock’ vase – with a vengeance!
Post by: petet63 on January 04, 2013, 11:58:10 AM
It looks to me that the vase, which is really nice, is a two for one. The design on the back would not look good as the back end of a Peacock ! It may be a local superstition to me but peacock feathers in the home are said to be  unlucky. (for us or the bird I'm not sure ??) I am not superstitious and would give one house room. Very nice piece.  Pete