Topic: Pink liqueur decanter glasses and tray French Sowerby

[bungie60]

Any body out there with any ideas on this set i have seen the decanter described as Sowerby and also French. But it is the tray that is confusing me i have never come across this pattern. plus there being ten glasses could tie it into being continental. Apparently it has always been together. More photographs here
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-11643

[Anne]

Looks like a marriage to me. The decanter and glasses are French (often marked in tiny letters on the base FRANCE). The tray, however, doesn't match them at all....  I'd think it's possibly from a trinket set or it may have been from a decanter set (just not this one!)  I don't recognise the tray - have you checked it carefully all over for a country name or a registration number?

[bungie60]

Just had a look Anne one glass with the faintest of mark France no other marks at all thanks and all the best Mark
P.S Must have been for a damn strong drink the glasses are tiny

[bungie60]

Found same set with same type tray Anne but different pattern for sale from France so it could be a set not a marriage. Item number: 180366639177 . Funny how things crop up 

[Lustrousstone]

Unusual to find the decanter and glasses with white stripes, but I would say that was another marriage. The design of the decanter/glasses is too different to that of the tray. You see these marriages all over the place

[bungie60]

Had this reply from the lady who sold the set Quote
As far as I know this tray is normally coming with a decanter and glasses. My mother has the same but clear colour and it also has the decanter and glasses.

As it is not a very big tray, you can use it as trinket but this is not what is is meant for.

to be very honest, trinkets trays were not very common in France. Most of the time for trinkets you had boxes or cups or this kind of item but trinkets trays are not very french ....

These trays are not very common but I have already seen other ones, the problem is that as they are very old, most of the time they are broken or damaged. unquote
Hope this helps yours Mark

[Lustrousstone]

Trinket trays aren't common in France - I agree, but trays for decanters and breakfast sets are. I still don't think they would have been made as a set, although they might have been bought together

[Bernard C]

...   I still don't think they would have been made as a set, although they might have been bought together   ...

Useful point, Christine.   Wholesaler and retailer inventiveness is all part of history, although usually quite difficult to prove, but should not be ignored.   I've had several sets, usually garniture sets, through my hands, most of which must come in this category.   A proven example comprises the Davidson flower blocks married with Monart bowls in the Liberty catalogues.

Bernard C. 

[bungie60]

Bit more info from the same lady. Yes your set is very similar to mine but the tray pattern is not very common. As I told you, these sets were often pink or peach colour. They were "ladies' sets. My mum has one coming from my grandmother's house and I remember she had it displayed in the living room and she used to bring it with the afternoon coffee to her friends to propose liquor. It is really very old, from the 20's to 40's only.
Best regards from (cloudy) France,
P.S probably explains why the glasses are so small if they were made for the fairer sex

[Lustrousstone]

Many of the old liqueur/spirit sets had tiny glasses - prime examples being the schnapps barrels you find on little stands with glasses - they weren't just for ladies, rather for measure control of spirits drunk neat. The pink glasses you have also come in what we would consider a whisky glass sort of size. I also doubt the age, post war would be my bet. People forget their grandmothers probably went on buying things until they died!