Topic: Sowerby 'Cucumber' bowl

[Paul S.]

Lustrousstone will probably know more on this Roy, but can say it's not Bagley, although might be Sowerby, who did a couple of dishes similar to this called Sweets  -  one described as 'Leaf' and the other 'Round'  -  catalogue Nos. 2208 and 2209 (1927).    Unfortunately, the catalogue omits to mention the sizes, although they are certainly smaller than the cucumber thingies.

[agincourt17]

As to some UV lights giving a blueish image when trying to photograph uranium glass - I have a desk lamp fitted with a UV bulb which makes uranium glass glow beautifully, and which produces an image with a realistic yellow-green glow when photographed with a digital camera (against either a white or black background).

I have also recently acquired a small battery-powered 'UV' torch which produces 'UV' light from 21 purplish LEDs; very portable, and gives a really good yellow-green fluorescence from uranium glass against any background when viewed with the naked eye, but actually photographs as a distinct purple-blue when photographed using the same camera (and the same illuminated white and black backgrounds now also photograph as purple-blue). I suspect, therefore, that the purple-blue effect is a combination of the torch producing a much broader wavelength range around the UV, and perhaps the camera light sensors detecting these 'extraneous' non-visible wavelenghts but interpreting them as visible somewhere along the way to producing the final image output.

Certainly, a recent sample of ebay photos of uranium glass under nominal 'UV' lighting seems to reveal an increasing number of purple-blue images, backgrounds and all (even though presumably the ebayer has perceived the glow from the glass as yellow-green, and the backgrounds as non-reactive,  with the naked eye). Might it be that this phenomenon is due to an increasing use of these handy, and very cheap, LED 'UV' torches ?

[Paul S.]

you may well be correct  -  although I have no technical knowledge as to whether some cheaper torches indeed give a broader wavelength range - I had thought that torches were geared specifically for long or middle wavelength but not a wide range.      I understand that those which are more suitable for our purposes are in the upper end of the long wavelength range.    Presumably it's something to do with the technical spec. of the led's, and maybe on the cheap keyring kind it's not possible to provide suitable led's for long range.      I've only ever had the proper torch sized units, and the technical blub that comes with them states the wavelength range to be either 385 or 395, depending on which version you buy.      Both of these should provide digital pictures free of any purple/blue effect, and they aren't that expensive - something like £9 per torch.

[Collectibletreasures2009]

I have a United States Glass Factory H Catalog that has a piece pictured in it similar to yours and it is listed as Pattern #334 Crystalina. It was originally from 1891 then certain pieces were reissued in the 1930s in green, pink and crystal.

[petet63]

i think from what's been said that the seller of this pattern was bothery good at his job and got around a bit !! Obviously with mine being bigger than others I am looking at Sowerby more than the others. I dont think this or similar can be pinned down to one maker easily but I have enjoyed the chase again. Just ordered a better UV light and will practise my photography. I have the ideal place in a very large cupboard. I will use the small torch for 'shopping' and Photo with the decent 395nm 52 light. Thanks for all the help. Pete

[petet63]

Collectibletreasures2009 I will try to check the US Glass factory info.  If you have any links or sites please let me know. I have sold a few pieces to the USA  (the postage on the heavier pieces is quite high) Thanks.

[Lustrousstone]

Yours is not Sowerby Pete. Sowerby uranium glass is a completely different shade of green. Bagley is more likely as I said earlier

[petet63]

Misinterpreted all the info. Hopefully it will sell then I wont have a headache  until I get the next piece   

[Paul S.]

Confusion creeping in here - almost certainly Pete's dish and mine are identical, and are both the larger Bagley design 'No. 2 Cucumber'.     It is to Roy's example of a smaller more yellow piece that collectibletreasures is referring, when speaking of a US glass factory  -  although whether it will turn out to be No. 334 Crystalina from the States remains to be proven.  We await the outcome
Just goes to show that when more than one design/piece is shown on the same thread there is potential for confusion unless people make it clear as to which one they are speaking of.     

[Ivo]

Just when you thought it was safe to cross the street, along comes someone who suggests that this is a fairly standard ice cream dish made by Italy' s largest purveyor to ice cream parlours, Stiver.  Who the original design is by is another matter - most of their products hawk back to the past. And I'm pretty sure Valerysthal made these as well.