Topic: Amber Glass Float Bowl - Help needed please ID = Crown Crystal, "Six Swirls"

[auliya]

Hi again, I was wondering if anyone recognises this amber bowl? It is 9.5 inches in diameter and 3 inches high, with 6 small feet. The panels of "frosting" on the outside are quite coarse, very similar to an amber vase I posted a query about a while ago. Any ideas most appreciated

   

cheers auliya

[Mosquito]

Very unusual bowl, not a pattern I recognise; for a moment I thought Walther Juno, but looking again there are too many differences...

[Cathy B]

This is either Walther "Juno", or the Crown Crystal version known as Six Swirls, unless there were other factories making the same pattern. You find them with slightly different curvature of the question mark panels, and I think yours is Australian, but I couldn't be absolutely certain. Where are you based?

The Australian pattern was first seen after mid-1930s (exact date unknown as the catalogues are missing). The frosting is characteristic of the Australian pieces, but is also found on others so it's not definitive.

Edited to add: Stephen, thank you. Six Swirls it is!

[Mosquito]

I'd say Crown Crystal then (thanks Cathy). Here's a Walther Juno bowl for comparison: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kingofbananas/4035999770/

[Cathy B]

 :kissy: :hiclp: Thanks for that! It clarifies a lot.

[auliya]

thank you both. I am in Brisbane (Qld Australia). Cathy, I think you responded to my query about the vase with that heavy frosting with a tentative ID of Crown Crystal, although I haven't found the vase, I just found my Marjory Graham glass book, which has been MIA for ages, and she does say that CC made the six swirl pattern in a float bowl with the rim turned in - so I think your ID is on the money! Thanks again

cheers
auliya

[Cathy B]

I'm just being ultra cautious. I'd say it's 90% probable to be Crown Crystal, but the more you learn, you realise how many other companies were making similar looking items. Majorie Graham didn't have access to any of the catalogues, so while her work is miraculous (given that she was working before photocopiers), she has made a few misjudgements.

[Lustrousstone]

The heavy coarse frosting is, I believe, a result of early sandblasting from a time when acid frosting had stopped being used because it was expensive, dangerous and labour intensive. I suspect the "sand" used initially was quite coarse and that was what gave this rough finish. You see it on some of the later Bagley pieces. Nowadays the "sand" used is very fine and gives a result almost as silky smooth as acid did/does.

[Cathy B]

No, I believe it's an enamel frit effect, as it seems to have been painted on and sits proud of the glass.

[Lustrousstone]

You're right. On looking closer, it's the old Matthey Crinkles and then frosting by whatever means.

My remarks are still true, just not in this case.