Topic: Sowerby green depression glass vase frog

[frenchbruce]

Hi there..

What I am desperate to find is a replacement green glass frog which fits into the Sowerby's vase which has the petals turned upwards ( not down like most).
The frog has a polished cut top to it with several arms which hold it centrally inside the vase.

can any one help...even a picture would be great.

Thanks

bruce

Christchurch NZ

[Anne]

Bruce, welcome to the board. It'll help us to know which Sowerby vase you mean as they did several. Is it like this one?
http://yobunny.org.uk/gallery1/displayimage.php?pos=-144

[Lustrousstone]

And probably what size as well...

[frenchbruce]

Hi there Anne & Christine...
Yes the vase I have here is like the image you have forwarded.
The vase measures approx. 3.5 " in diameter at the base and about 6.25" at the top.
It has 8 upturned glass tongues.The vase also sits on a black glass pedestal.
I can recall the frog having a flat top surface to it...almost green crystal like, and not having flower stem holes, but rather the frog had a large central hole with several glass "spokes" which allowed the flower stems to be arranged around the outside of the frog. 

What did happen to the frog...Mmmm well believe it or not a large bunch of flowers was removed from the vase with the frog well attached..and it got thrown out with flowers ( many years ago).

So in memory of my mother who I know treasured this particular piece...I have decided to see if someone can find me a replacement frog, so the vase can be passed onto the next generation.
Best wishes to all...from New Zealand..

Bruce Whitfield
Sumner
Christchurch

[Bernard C]

Bruce — Sowerby "Star" flower holders were made in three sizes and three shades of green, so we need more information to at least define what you need, before even starting helping you to find the correct one.

The best way of checking the size is to tell us the plinth number, if it has one.   They can be very faint, or not be present at all.   First the number.   Is it 2506, 2536, or something else?   Now the font of the punches used to stamp the number into the mould.   Is it large and flamboyant with lovely blobby ends to the characters, like this, or is it small, thin, mean and characterless?

Now the colour.   Choice of three main colours:

1. A greeny yellow, looks like vaseline, and glows madly under UV light, or

2. A warmish mid-green, which glows fairly strongly under UV light, or

3. A mid-green which doesn't react at all to UV light.

The three colours are each fairly consistent, due to a superb glass technology department at the Sowerby glassworks, so, once we've worked out the colour the flower holder should be a close match.   If you haven't access to a UV lamp try a disco / nightclub / lighting shop / stamp collector.

... and up front apologies.   We've got the builders in from tomorrow, so I am likely to be off-air for a couple of weeks.

Bernard C. 

[frenchbruce]

Greetings from New Zealand Bernard..& thanks for coming back to us..

The Black plinth has the numbers: 2506 and they are very neatly presented.

The glass vase itself is a very translucent mid/light green...and the outer indentation of the petals appears to be etched..i.e. they feel rough to touch.

I have a attached a JPEG of the treasure!

Best regards

bruce

[Bernard C]

Bruce — Your vase is a Sowerby 2505 S Lily, de-luxe edition with the satin finish petals.   I think it's the second colour above, but you still need to check it with a UV source to be certain.   It will require the medium sized "Star" flower holder in the matching colour.   If it is that second colour, then it's an early example from the 1930s.   Does that fit with its history?

The S above stands for Small.   They started with two sizes, L and S, and later added two smaller sizes.   Instead of changing the name of yours they called the next size down "Posy";  we don't know the name of the toothpick sized version (with only six petals — they ran out of space), but everyone knows what you mean by a 2505 toothpick.   There's a moral in there somewhere, like "Don't name your chickens before they're all hatched".

I will try to get you some dimensions once the builders have finished.   You need to know about all four Sowerby Star holders and the German lookalikes to be sure of getting it right.

Bernard C. 

[Lustrousstone]

To my eye that looks to be the 1930s green uranium variant (Bernard's No. 2) and yes the petals are acid etched. I have an out-turned version of about the same size (without plinth or flower ring). The only way to be sure that it contains uranium is to use a UV light but the slight fuzziness of the deep green edges is usually a clue. In truth a non-uranium flower block would probably be OK as it's quite difficult to tell glass variants Nos 2 and 3 apart, even when side by side. With the block inside the vase no-one would know. Once we know what size you need, I suggest ebay as a good place to look. I'll have a look in the catalogue later.

I've seen Bernard's reply but I'll let this stand

[Bernard C]

... With the block inside the vase no-one would know. ...

I'm going to take my life in my hands and disagree with Christine. 

In my opinion it wouldn't look right, especially in sunshine and some other lighting conditions.   And it wouldn't be right, either.   And you would know.

Bernard C. 

[Leni]

As a 'perfectionist' (NOT obsessive / compulsive at ALL  ) I have to agree with Bernard!   

Good luck with finding a replacement flower holder, Bruce.  I'm sure you'll have fun confusing ebay sellers by asking, "Exactly which shade of Sowerby green is the flower holder you have for sale? 1, 2 or 3?"    LOL