Topic: Tyre shaped decanter

[Frank]

Has anyone come across one of these on their travels, with or without lettering?

[krsilber]

I know a couple American companies made similarly shaped decanters, but that's probably not very helpful.

[Ivo]

Baccarat has been making something very similar for Rémy Martin and I am almost certain it is a Chevalier design which goes back to the twenties or thirties. There are many variants - or it could be "inspired".

[Bernard C]

Frank — Don't eliminate the possibility of a British manufacturer.   Only last week I was shown a heavy mould-blown horseshoe-shaped decanter that had escaped from the depths of a Royal Brierley / S&W stock room on their closure.   Obviously superficially quite different, but it could have been the same brain behind it.

Note "TYRED", not "TIRED" — the play on words wouldn't have worked in the USA, or would it?

Bernard C. 

[Frank]

Sorry forgot to include the maker  Stevens & Williams.

It is in the catalogue I am adding to the web-site dated to about 1910. The pattern number without the text and described as "Life Buoy" is 30494 and with the text described as "Motor Tyre" is No 37058. This dates this design before 1907.

I would like to see a picture of the real thing.

Interesting that Baccarat did something similar, I have quite a few Baccarat catalogues to add to the site from c1925 to the 1960's it will be interesting if a similar one is shown there - and perhaps I even have American catalogues with such a shape in.

[Frank]

Had to dash for a visitor...

I would like to see a picture of one of these and its earlier variant, I am wondering if the edge is cut like tyre treads and how the earlier version differs. Possibly the Life Buoy has no cutting as the wholesale prices was 6/- compared to 13/6 for the Engraved/Cut version. The price list does say Plain.

I imagine that trying to remove the stains whisky tends to leave, resulted in most of these being thrown out.

[Bernard C]

Frank — I didn't write what I meant to say  

The S&W / RB horseshoe decanter has large horseshoes moulded each side, complete with rectangular nail depressions, and the horseshoes define the shape of the decanter.   I thought that it might have been intended as a trophy.

Strange that you seem to be able to read my mind.   Are you clairvoyant?   ... across international boundaries?

Bernard C.  

[Frank]

As this is in a Table Ware catalogue, I guess it is just a 'novelty shape' item. Of the ten spirit bottles/flasks on that page, three are novelty shapes. Of the 80 decanters on the site so far, only these S&W ones have novelty shapes. Those in the Moser catalogue (1948) certainly are the most interesting from a design perspective. Once I finish uploading the S&W catalogue I will be concentrating on the cut glass catalogues first so that Kristi has material for her categorisation project available, first American, then German, French and Belgian. If I come across any more novelties like the above I will add the thumbnails to this thread.

[krsilber]

I found a photo of the real thing in a book from 1955, From Broadglass to Cut Crystal by Guttery.  If the copyright isn't current anymore I can post a photo of it; otherwise I'll email it to you if you want.  Would the copyright still be good?

The caption says:  "Glass-manufacturers' friggers:  A Stevens and Williams whiskey bottle."

[Frank]

There are some differences in US copyright but to be safe, best to just email it to me Kristi. Amusing that it is wrongly described as a frigger though. I suppose people were too serious in the 50s to accept frivolous designs as production!