Author Topic: Possible Stevens and Williams Alabaster Glass? ID: Almost certainlyS&W Alabaster (Read 8368 times)

BJB · « **on:** May 27, 2005, 02:02:19 PM »

Hi,

Have just got this lidded pot which I think maybe by Stevens and Williams. It has a ground pontil mark on the white base, and is a funny soapy kind of glass.

The lid is silver and has a mark for 1922 Birmingham.

The nearest kind of glass I can find is Stevens and Williams alabaster glass, but having never seen any in the flesh, so to speak, it is hard to say what it looks and feels like.

http://tinypic.com/5e8pdf

I'm hoping Bernard can help :lol:

Max · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2005, 04:33:59 PM »

Is that the correct lid? Does it say 'Wendy' on it? How curious!

BJB · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2005, 04:46:46 PM »

Hi Max,

Yes it does say Wendy, it looks like a powder bowl, and some had silver lids.

I believe that "Wendy" was a made -up name used in Peter Pan, which then became popular, but I may be wrong (which is usually the norm :wink: )

Barbara

chopin-liszt · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2005, 06:14:18 PM »

Hello Barbara,
I've heard that too, it comes from baby-talk, "friendy-wendy". It might be an "urban myth", 'though.
Cheers, Sue.

Leni · « **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2005, 09:01:35 PM »

Quote from: "chopin-liszt"

Hello Barbara,
I've heard that too, it comes from baby-talk, "friendy-wendy". It might be an "urban myth", 'though.
Cheers, Sue.

No, it's true. J.M. Barrie invented the name because a friend's daughter used to call him 'my fwendy', so he called her 'Fwendy Wendy'. She died aged six, and he named his character Wendy Darling in Peter Pan after her.

Leni

BJB · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2005, 10:01:01 PM »

Oh, thanks Leni,

I got something right :lol: , nothing to do with glass mind you, but still its a start :wink:

Barbara

Bernard C · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2005, 06:55:08 AM »

Barbara â€” S&W / RB Alabaster is difficult as there is at least one other range, probably more, all very similar. I don't even have a definitive list of colours, although orange is known. Documentation is poor, typical of most S&W / RB.

Of one point I am certain. I would be very wary of any identification of Alabaster from photographs, unless it matched exactly a well-documented piece. Your bowl is similar in shape to Sotheby's 1998 RB Collection sale lot #265, but the proportions are slightly different, possibly a function of size.

Best to take it to a glass fair and/or museum and obtain several opinions.

And please will all those putting up a piece for Id include country of purchase, any known provenance, dimensions, weight, and a photograph of the pontil mark. It may not help, but it could.

Bernard C.

BJB · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2005, 09:49:56 AM »

Hi Bernard,

Here is the base, and it is about 4" tall and 5" wide.

http://tinypic.com/5eslyq

it is white, and does look like alabaster. It does have white inclusions in the orange (which is a pale tangarine colour really) that I think might have come when they added the base.

Hope this is of more help.

Barbara

Bernard C · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2005, 04:21:44 PM »

Barbara â€” In my inexperienced opinion you are the owner of one of the most beautiful and perfect examples of British glass I have ever seen. I have no doubt whatsoever that it is S&W Alabaster. I am green (or, perhaps, orange) with envy.

Please obtain other opinions, as I have seen and handled very little S&W / RB Alabaster.

... and please let me know if you ever consider selling it, although note that such glass rarely achieves a price commensurate with its fabulous quality.

Bernard C.

Frank · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2005, 05:42:33 PM »

What does RB mean?