Topic: Black candlewick plinth and piano rest/insulator marked FMJ

[Anne E.B.]

This is the first plinth that I've seen of its kind.  I'm guessing it might be American.  Unlike other 'black' glass that I have which shows purple or deep amethyst, this looks blue when held to the light.  No markings.  Any ideas welcome. TIA 


I'm sure this is either a piano or furniture rest/insulator.  The top is quite shallow.  3½" diam. x 1¼" high.  The base is marked with a star and the letters FMJ.  I've not been able to track down who or what FMJ is.  One of a pair, they look to be really old with masses of wear on the base.  Any thoughts about this would be much appreciated.

Thank you as always

[Bernard C]

Anne — I wouldn't attach too much significance to the colour of the plinth.   I recall Adam telling us that at Sowerby they welcomed a pot of black glass as more or less any scrap coloured glass could be thrown in, including Carnival.   If you happened to have a lot of blue scrap, then you would end up with black glass like yours.   I've had a similarly coloured Davidson No. 4 plinth through my hands.

I've seen your plinth before, but I can't recall seeing it with any obvious go-withs.   I would have first thought of a Central European origin.   You might try browsing around Pamela's websites.

Note that true intensely black glass, as Thomas Webb used on pieces for the Rembrandt Guild, is rather different.

Bernard C. 

[Lustrousstone]

That's an unusual insulator and not one I've seen before. Should have recycling value! Even common ones are profitable, even with damage

[Anne E.B.]

Thanks for the clarification on the colour Bernard, that's really interesting.  I bought it along with another 'black' piece - a jug, which is a wonderful rich amethyst colour when held to the light, and it was just the difference between the two that made me curious.   I haven't checked glas-musterbuch yet, but know that it isn't shown in Pamela's museum.  The balls around the edge are actually rounded and not flat underneath.  Will continue to search...

The insulators are a bit of a mystery at the moment Christine.  Still trying to discover the significance of FMJ, but nothing is coming up so far.  (Not 'Full Metal Jacket' )  I'm hoping someone will recognise the mark  :huh: fingers crossed.

[Anne E.B.]

Just a thought (thinking outloud ) and may be way off mark.  May be the letters FMJ do not relate to a glass company at all?  Could it be a technical code 'full molecular jacket' seen on some websites for companies producing specialist glass, i.e. bullet resistant protective glass etc.  The letters FMJ may be just indicating that the glass used to make the insulator is just that - protective glass?  Which doesn't lead me any further to discovering who made it.

[Adam]

Bernard - Sowerby's black was not quite as random as people might think from your comment!  Yes, we used up any old cullet in black, but sufficient manganese dioxide was always included to ensure a "normal" black.  Of course, as usual I can't speak for other factories or other times.  Manganese was quite cheap then - I haven't a clue re the current economics of it.

Adam D.

[Anne E.B.]

The mystery of who or what FMJ is has been very kindly revealed to me by Tom Katonak, who needs no introduction to collectors of insulators.  He has graciously allowed me to add the following information.

Tom informed me that the FMJ trademark stands for Fernand Mathieu of Jumet Belgium.  There were a small number of glass houses in the Jumet area, producing a variety of glass products in the teens and '20s.  Several of these made piano "coasters" (piano rests/insulators) - with Mathieu being possibly the most prolific.  Tom has several pieces of original advertising for FMJ all dated in the early twenties.  A large number of P.I. styles in various colours came from the Jumet glass houses.  Tom goes on to say that he doesn't know the full extent of the Mathieu production period, but reckons  it was from around 1915-1930.

Greatful thanks to Tom :clap:

[Anne E.B.]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/FMJadvert.jpg

Original old Fernand Mathieu advertising picture card belonging to Tom, showing two piano rests which he is happy to share with GMB members for educational purposes.