If you raise the vase so that the locating lugs locate on the ring as Tony suggests, the bird on the right is drinking from the water in the vase — that on the left has just finished. With the vase in its proper position, there is almost no mirror surface remaining for use as a mirror, so the whole object becomes purely ornamental with no other function.
This is the best example I have seen or seen illustrated. All the others have been like those shown in
Silber & Fleming on pages 129 and 133, termed Wall Mirrors and Brackets, where almost all would function as a mirror unless you obscured the surface with a large flower display.
I've had just the one through my hands. It was unattributable, with three uncoloured standard wavy-edged epergne flutes with bent glass supports fixed to their sides, the other ends of the supports mounted in brass cups that fitted into a standard de-luxe three-hole epergne block with screw-up brasswork with locating lugs for the two side cups. Incidentally it's the only time I've seen a three-hole screw-up epergne block.
I suggest that this class of object started as decorated mirrors, gradually evolving into the purely decorative ornament.
Regards the pressing of the bird ornamentation, the technology was already well-known. The first part of the great J.G. Sowerby's Patent No. 2433 of 15 September 1871 does precisely the same.
Nice one, Glen.
Bernard C.
Topic: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit? (Read 4264 times)
