Topic: Can anyone tell me anything about this press moulded tumbler?

[neil53]

Hi, I'm a bit stumped on identifying the age of this tumbler.  It appears to have been made in a mould in three parts.  There are three vertical joins in the glass, one of which can be seen in the picture.  It has the feel of mid 19th century glass about it but I'd appreciate any input from the pressed glass experts on this site?
 

[johnphilip]

Hi does it have a lot of even base wear ? Baccaratt did a lot of moulded tumblers in the mid 1800s i have a couple one has a sulphide in it , about 1860 i was told . they also did moulded candlesticks . I dont do pressed usually . jp

[neil53]

Hi JP,

Thanks for taking the time out to comment.  Yes, there is enough age on the base to suggest it might be 19th century but I don't think the metal is sufficiently good for it to be Baccarat.  I wish it was!  Neil

[johnphilip]

Hi Neil the metal on the pressed items is not that wonderful i have seen some really rough candlesticks with poor metal and one of my tumblers is not that good but has been IDd by a top glassie . nothing like the crystal .

[Paul S.]

a good picture of the base would be useful Neil.      Sorry can't really help I don't think  -  I've just looked again at John A. Brooks 'Glass Tumblers 1700 - 1900', and there's nothing quite like your example.     Head on block time, but it does seem that the vast majority of C19 tumblers lean towards being conical/slightly conical in shape i.e. narrower at the base, although I appreciate they can also be waisted, barrel shaped (earlier examples probably), or cylindrical.     Maybe Continental examples were different.   I won't go into descriptions here, because I have to reply elsewhere on a similar subject.     What convinces you that yours is a tumbler?
Is jp saying that his C19 Baccarat examples are cylindrical or tapered?

[johnphilip]

Mine are cylindrical  straight sides the sulphide is the same mould pattern as the one in the big Baccarat book page 156 , one that i sold had  the same side pattern as Neils but the small band around the top was plain , i am not saying i know they are Baccarat... just thought it was worth looking at .

[Paul S.]

Would agree jp, anything is worth looking at when you're stumped.       I just thought that the way that this moulded decoration comes up almost to the top of the rim, then just possibly the piece is not a drinking glass  -  most tumblers have some little distance of smooth glass where the lips/mouth contact the glass.

[neil53]

Hi Paul, thanks for your input and here is a photo of the base.  There is about 1/4 inch of clear glass between the strawberry decoration and the rim.  If not a tumbler then I am stumped as it appears to be too small for a vase and too decorative for an apothecray piece.  Appreciate all the help though! 

[neil53]

Hi JP,

Thanks for the information regarding your own glass.  I'd be very happy to attribute it to Baccarat but am familiar only with their crystalware.  Is your tumbler made in three parts?  It is that which I have not seen before. 

[Sid]

Neil

Although it seems to be mentioned often, the number of mould lines for a pressed piece are not helpful in providing a time frame.  Does it rings like a bell when lightly tapped?  If not, later than the 1850s.

Dimensions?

Sid