Topic: Handpainted opalescent shade - Victorian? Gas?

[Anne E.B.]

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-10004
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-10003
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-10002
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-10000
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-10001

Any thoughts on this gorgeous piece of glass would be much appreciated.  Its a handpainted opalescent shade (I think) with a strange fitting in the centre with leaf and berry cut design.  I haven't found anything similar to this, and just wonder if it is a gas fitting, making it Edwardian or late Victorian?  Or am I way off mark and it is something totally different?

I've still got to clean more dirt off the glass, and haven't as yet touched the metal, which is really grimy.   The convoluted folds make it difficult to clean, and so far its had a soaking, and I've used a very soft toothbrush.

I'm guessing that the handpainted side faces downwards, but wonder how this would fit in with my guess that it could be a gas light shade :huh:

TIA for any comments

[Frank]

Can you send me large pics of both sides of the fittings please. Is the small side threaded internally (I assume it has a hole in the centre?)

[Anne E.B.]

Thanks Frank   Unable to send these images direct to you, so hopefully these photobucket links with larger images will be okay.  (I'll reduce them down and put them in my gallery).

Had to use damp cotton buds to clean off the grunge as the holes on painted top (large side) were only just big enough to put little finger in.  There doesn't appear to be a hole in the centre, but there is something rounded, but flat, in the middle.  There is also a rubber washer that fits around the bottom of the stem, but its very perished and broke when touched.

On the underside (unpainted side), there is a hole with what looks like a broken off metal rod in the centre, but not threaded as far as I can make out.  Its a bit difficult to make out because its quite rough looking.   The broken off rod just stands proud of the opening.

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/DSCF1215.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/DSCF1227.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/DSCF1226.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/DSCF1225.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/DSCF1213.jpg

[Leni]

Couldn't be a gas light, IMHO.  I reckon it's a plate with a decorative handle, and a foot which has broken off   

 

[Frank]

I agree that it is not a gas light, there is no way I can see of setting a burner there. Putting on the fancy side would not work. However, it could be an early decoration for electric light pendant and that would date it to the 1890 to 1910 period. I would suspect that it was part of a multi-light fitting, 2, 3, 4 or more with a pipe connecting to the supporting arm and the wires passing through. How big is the hole?

The light bulb would have hung below the fancy metalwork. Light shades for electric lamps were not considered as important as letting people know that you had electric light. Electrical safety was dubious and the uninsulated live wires would be run up the wall and across the ceiling insulated by two grooved channels in the wooden conduit. These could be used with a wooden cover or left uncovered. Lightbulbs circa 1900 cost around two shillings each which was why many companies offered a filament repair service.

[Anne E.B.]

Interesting stuff Frank.  Thanks :clap:  I would imagine anyone who had this, was fairly well heeled, and liked to live dangerously.  The hole is just less than 10mm diam. say about 9.

Now I'm just wondering what on earth to do with it?  That'll teach me   May be Leni's idea of a plate?   I'm not sure that I'd like to risk removing the metal bits though    Hmmmm - any suggestions?

[Frank]

There are collectors of scarce early electrical so you might get a surprise on eBay, it would help if you can ID the glass though.

[Anne E.B.]

I like the sound of that   I like surprises

Anyone like to offer an opinion on the actual glass?

[Bernard C]

Anne — I've checked Silber & Fleming, but nothing remotely like it.

There were some interesting assemblies early on in the Burmese Sale on Jim Sapp's website which had some frilly components, but they've been sold, so the photographs have been removed.

Bernard C. 

[Anne E.B.]

Thank you Bernard   I think Jim looks in once in a while, so hopefully he will take a look.  Or may be its better to contact him via his website...

I have a question, not about the glass but about the actual fitting. The cutwork 'finial' to be precise.  What are the chances of this being either pewter or silver?  I ask because I've given it a bit of a clean and it looks remarkably silvery and if I didn't know better, I'd say it could be one or the other.  I've had a look to see if there are any marks, but I can't see any.  However, there are a couple of indentations which I can't clean, so they may be dirt covered marks, or they may be just inconsistencies in the surface.  If the piece has been made abroad, then I guess it might not have marks anyway?  The cleaned up piece is a different metal to the bit it is attached to.  This looks to be brass.

I think alloys might have come later :huh:, so, would it have not been unusual to have just a finial in silver or pewter?  It would kind of finish the piece off.

TIA