Topic: Engraved or cut? antique? clear footed bowl with underplate

[flying free]

I have no idea about this piece at all despite looking for quite a while. I found a couple of engraved Stevens and Williams pieces where the engraving looked to have similarities in design so I was wondering if it may be one of their pieces?
And is it cut or engraved?  there are no 'matt' bits on this, it all looks polished if you know what I mean.  Even the base of the foot underneath is engraved.
The underplate is deep in the middle and I think is definitely supposed to be an underplate.  It has a beautiful fairly large, polished pontil mark.  I think the rim is folded underneath it but can't be certain.  Maybe  it was just made with a slightly thicker bit at the rim (is that possible?)
All thoughts much appreciated - it's quite a lot bigger than say a champagne coupe.  I think it must be a dessert bowl and underplate?
m

[flying free]

http://www.millersantiquesguide.com/items/47901/an-early-20th-century-stevens-/
here's an example where I thought the leaves looked similar.
m

[johnphilip]

It is in the style of John Orchard who worked for S&W but others did similar .

[flying free]

yes, I saw his pieces as well JP..they are gorgeous.  I suppose this doesn't have the cache of being a detailed 'scene' however I still think it is beautifully done - added to which  the cutting on the underside of the foot.  I think the quality is there for Stevens and Williams.
m

[flying free]

Err, is this intaglio cutting?  sorry I'm slightly embarrassed asking in case someone says, no it was made yesterday  by machine
And could it be Thomas Webb?
m

[Lustrousstone]

Not sure what you mean M. It's intaglio, i.e., below the surface. The way to tell if it's machine or not is to look at the detail; is everything identical and spot-on accurate. Hand cutting isn't.

[johnphilip]

I was told by a very knowledgeable person that those blossoms were almost as good as his signature .

[flying free]

JP are you referring to  the blossoms on my piece or his (John Orchard's)  blossoms in general please?

Hi Christine - no I'm not sure what I mean either...I have little to no idea about the techniques of engraving really or how it's done, except I've always coveted some absolutely gorgeous pieces (pieces with pictures and huge amounts of detail in them etc) within the books I have.  I haven't been able to  find my Peter Dreiser book to look at for information  :cry:, and I get confused by the terms.  In my mind's eye, cut meant straight lines and shiny polished finish and engraved meant flowing, more natural lines and matt finish - I think that was my confusion, because this is flowing and natural but all shiny and polished with no matt areas.  I'm going to have another hunt for my book to see if I can understand better.
Having now looked under a magnifying glass each leaf and petal has loads of straight lines very close together and not seen on just looking at the piece without magnification - so would that be wheel engraved?  

Thank you both for looking   and helping
m

[Andy]

m, you say its all highlypolished, no matt areas, could this be a piece of 'Rock Crystal' ?
That is always very highly polished. Stevens & Williams did that too.

Andy
 

[Lustrousstone]

It's not rock crystal.

Both can be done with wheels. I don't know the definitions off the top of my head but cut glass can be grey (unpolished) too. It may just be geometric versus natural (a bit like parquetry versus marquetry).