Topic: Really weird gross bowl/ashtray history please

[Margi]

This is a little odd and quite frankly ugly in my eyes.  It looks to have been made from recycled glass but I could be way off the mark.  It is sooo heavy.  I have done the pics to show the thickness.  It is badly scratched.  It feels smooth  and flat but is not flush on the base you could spin it around like a spinning top.  Very deceiving.  Although it looks like rubbish it is actually finished quite nicely.  The corners are not sharp they are rounded off and are symmetrical.  Two corners have two facets to the edge and the other two facing are just rounded.  I like it but think its ugly and I dont really know its purpose.  i think block candle holder OH thinks ashtray but without the rest for the cigarette.  Can anyone give us any history on this item please.
Margi

[Max]

Looks like it might be a glass wall brick. 

[Margi]

Ah we know what you mean.  Here is some measurements 13.5 x 13.5cm x 5.5cm.  Forgot to mention also that inside the glass it comes to a point in the centre with 4 triangular sections.  Would this clarify a wall brick or turn it away from that direction.

Thanks
Margi

[Max]

The design might be to disperse the light.  We don't have much information on here about glass bricks, but if you use our Search facility and type in brick then a few threads do come up.  Otherwise, you could try searching Google for 'Glass bricks' 'glass briques' and so on.   

[Margi]

Well we have searched till our eyes have misted over.  The glass blocks/bricks we have looked have the following dimensions 115x115x80, 146x146x80, 190x190x80, 190x190x100,240x240x80 and another huge one.  Ours is 135x135x50.  Ours has a recess that is finished exactly like a crystal ashtray I have.  The depth is also the same size as my crystal ashtray.  Now I know Max knows her stuff  but I am not 100% convinced that this could be a glass brick/block.  If you had a wall full of the block we have with the recess on ours how on earth would it be kept clean it just isn't practical.
Any more thoughts before I log this as an ugly glass block.
Margi

[Max]

Have you thought about it being a pavement light?

[Margi]

Oooo now you are making me think 

[Anne]

www.glassian.org might be worth exploring then

[Margi]

Thanks Anne now that link was something to chew on.  The nearest brick we could find that looks like ours is http://www.glassian.org/Falconnier/Maison_Bergeret.jpg in this image the bricks that surround the stain glass look remarkably like ours.  Could it be that they were built up double faced putting two together (with the airgap recess sandwiched together) would definately without doubt look like ours.  My OH says that if you put the two together it would give you a robust enough wall to support the height needed. The protruding bevel on the edges would allow you to put the adhesive on without it being seen when looking at the glass when built but still provide enough adhesive.
Thoughts now?

Margi

[Frank]

A bit too smart for a brick, ashtray more likely.