Topic: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?

[Heidimin]

Does anyone recognise this pressed glass bowl? I'm sure I've seen it before, but can't think where. (Apologies for atrocious pics, but I couldn't bear to wait for daylight to get better ones!)

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9293
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9292

I bought it and its siblings on instinct in the hopes that it might be by Alexander Hardie Williamson for Sherdley. Tending to support this attribution:

- like Sherdley's other bowls of this period (eg Regency and Doric), it's part of a fruit set of one large and six small bowls

- similar size, weight and quality to Regency and Doric

- innovative use of pressed glass typical of Sherdley's post-war production (ie not imitating cut glass)

- Regency and Doric also have motifs on the base

- other Sherdley designs of this period have turned up with various forms of surface decoration (Johnson Matthey crinkles, screen printing, transfers, gilding, hand painting, engraving) - though it's not clear whether the decoration was carried out by Sherdley (other than the screen-printed tumblers range introduced in 1958, all their advertising shows undecorated designs) or by another company/ companies to whom Sherdley sold the blanks.

Against the attribution is the fact that I haven't come across this design in any of Sherdley's advertising. But there is a reference in a 1961 press release to a range of bowls and dishes called Snowflake. Given the motif on the base, could this be it?

Any thoughts or alternative attributions would be very welcome!

For reference, pics of Doric and Regency:

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9270
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9269
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9207
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9206
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9272
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9273

[David E]

I'm thinking more about the enamel stars that might point this as being British. The reason being is that Chance used these on Spiderweb and they look remarkably similar (seen in green, red and blue, BTW).

If they were sourced from Johnson, Matthey Ltd (Chance's favoured supplier) then other British glassware makers might have also adopted them.

Tenuous link, but it raises a little hope.

[Anne]

Heidi, I saw a plate with that jagged pattern on it last week... no stars though, just clear glass. No marks on it at all though. It rang a bell with me too, but I can't remember why.

[ChrisStewart]

Hi,

Against the attribution is the fact that I haven't come across this design in any of Sherdley's advertising. But there is a reference in a 1961 press release to a range of bowls and dishes called Snowflake. Given the motif on the base, could this be it?

It's not the snowflake pattern.

Chris

[David E]

Do you have an example photo or diagram of Snowflake, Chris?

[Frank]

What company name do Sherdleys adverts get indexed under?

[David E]

Possibly Johnsen & Jorgensen Ltd, its distributors - although from about 1968, it amalgamated with United Glass.

[Frank]

No hit but here is AHW's Snowflake May 1961 PG&GTR. courtesy the Glass-Study

[David E]

Great, that eliminates Heidi's 'new' bowl as this pattern  :clap:

Now what is it... :huh:

[Heidimin]

Thanks, Frank - that's brilliant!  :chky:

BTW, is this advert up on Glass Study? I've searched on "Sherdley" and also looked for PGGTR 1961, but couldn't find it.

As David says, now we just need an ID on the mystery bowls.