Topic: Jonas Defries & Sons, RD 35778, 26 June 1846 - Night lamp

[flying free]

Hi Paul and thank you

brain now in gear and I know what you mean.  The link to my vase is below.  I suppose I was just wondering if you'd come across anything shaped like my vase,  specified in colour maybe, but also if you'd noticed any pic similar to the enamel on my vase.  I can't think there will be anything about the vase, other than that, that is registered for any reason.
The dates/no's in Gulliver's run from example 43424 Jul 6 1847 (etruscan prints) to 52328 June 6 1848 which is a jug with a flowering pattern of water lilies and leaves that I believe might have used the same kind of enamels as the 'fawn' on my vase.
I suppose it might be possible the shape of the vase could be in there somewhere, especially the cupped rim.
The link is here.  I'm 99.9% sure the vase is Richardson but unfortunately my conclusions are the last, as not had any replies from queries I've sent elsewhere that either confirm fully or dissent.  The only way I will get any closer than that is to go myself and check the Richardson pattern books, but even that is most unlikely to happen.
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,53085.msg301507.html#msg301507
Thank you again.  Whenever you next go, if it is possible to give a quick check, that would be very much appreciated.  Many thanks
m

[agincourt17]

A thick and heavy tumbler in amethyst / aubergine pressed glass, the flared sides having a broad plain rim above a chunky hobnail pattern; 4 inches tall.

(Permission for the re-use of these images on the GMB granted by wight-boy33).

The base bears the registry date lozenge for 7 June 1883 – Parcel 20 (though the date letter is indistinct, so the lozenge reads ? – K – M – 20). The only design registration for that date was RD 399063, and the registrant was J. Defries & Sons, London.

The base is also marked ½ P (presumably ½ pint capacity) and DEPOSE (the French term for registered). Although Derfries was the design registrant, the DEPOSE mark on the base might seem to point to a French manufacturer.

This appears to be the final Defries family glass design registration (see my reply #11 above).

The online design registration summary from The National Archives does not give a subject, so it seems rather out of the Defries run of registrations to have a coloured tableware piece rather than a lighting-related registration, though Jonas Defries & sons is known to have supplied coloured lantern glasses for the Indian trade (also in my rely #11).

If Paul S. happens by this post, I wonder if he might have the design representation to RD 399063 to hand in confirmation of the registration details, please?

Fred.

[flying free]

I'm not sure where to put this so have put it here

It appears Defries and Sons produced glass furniture and were competitors to Osler

'Glass furniture from companies like Osler (and its British competitors, Defries & Sons and the Coalbourne Hill Glass Works) had another distinct advantage. Because the glass cutting was geometric, not figural, the decoration was acceptable to Muslim rulers.'
Source NY Times 16 June 2006

[Paul S.]

couple of years late I'm afraid Fred  -  but on the assumption this may still have some interest for you, attached is a watermarked and resized image of the original drawing held by The National Archives at Kew for the Defries Rd. 399063 dated 7th June 1883 - and address is 147 Houndsditch as you've already mentioned.                There is no mention on the original drawing, or in the single volume Register, to suggest where this was made, but I'd agree with you that the word Depose appears to confirm this tumbler was made outside the U.K.

[agincourt17]

Thank you for showing the RD 399063  design representation, Paul - every little bit of definitive information helps.

Fred.

[neilh]

I've come across an 1867 advert for Defries, it reads thus:

TABLE GLASS, ENGRAVED AND CUT, DINNER, DESSERT, AND BREAKFAST WARE; CRYSTAL AND BRONZED AND ORMOLU CHANDELIERS.

Notice of removal - J Defries and Sons have removed from their temporary premises, Commercial Street, Whitechapel, to their new City show rooms, 147 HOUNDSDITCH, N.E., where they have for inspection, in their Six new Show-rooms, an entirely new assortment of CRYSTAL & BRONZED CHANDELIERS; cut, engraved, and jewelled Table Glass, Dinner, Dessert, and Tea Services; Jet and other Ornaments for Dining and Drawing-rooms, Exhibition Flower Vases, Tazzas, Lustres, etc. Lamps of every description for India and other markets.

Established 1803

WORKS - LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, AND PARIS

[agincourt17]

Thank you, Neil.

All information gratefully received.

Fred.

[agincourt17]

Another Jonas Defries & Sons design to show.

A substantial press-mouded flint glass pedestal vase with the registry date lozenge for 7 January 1881 - Parcel 15.  Decorated with a pair of heads depicting an Indian elelphant. Measures 24cm tall, with a base diameter of 13.5cm and a top rim diameter of 13cm .
(Permission for the re-use of these images on the GMB granted by pottman321)

Jonas Defries and Sons , 147 Houndsditch, City, London, registered 2 designs for glass items on 7 January 1881 - Parcel 15: registered designs numbers 360486 and 360487; see reply #11 in this thread for a list of Defries design registrations


Unfortunately, the online design registration summaries from TNA don't give a subject for either RD so I can't tell which of the 2 designs relates to the vase.

There is no record of Defries having a glass works, so I imagine that the manufacture of the vase was subcontracted out (though I have no idea to whom).

Describing themselves as, among other things, manufacturers of  'lamps for India and other markets',  I find it interesting that the elephants on the vase have an obvious connection to Defries' other items for the Anglo-Indian market.

Fred.

[Paul S.]

this pedestal vase, with the elephant's heads, is Rd. 360487  -  and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but assuming this is all there is then it's missing its lid  -  both Registrations were produced with lids.
I have Kew images for both 360486 and 487, and will post this afternoon some time  -  the first of these two numbers is even more artistically impressive, and shows  -  dare I use the expression, mermaids with bare breasts  -  to be viewed only by those over 18!

Coming back to Fred's long list of Defries Registrations, in post No. 11, many of these I would have purposefully not photographed  -  lamp chimneys and light reflectors etc. are not, in my opinion, the sort of items that people wanted for the Board's archive.         Some, however, whilst irrelevant to our interests, are truly impressive and very colourful - so in the coming days I'll try to post some of those to show how diverse these people were in their marketing strategy.

[flying free]

Fred, if there is no record of Defries having a glass works, the advert Neil described might indicate where but not who.
That purple colour reminds me of some Sevres pieces but it's pressed.  I don't know if they made pressed glass.

'Established 1803

WORKS - LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, AND PARIS '



And the article I copied from the NYT as below but is not indicative of where their glass was made either:

'Glass furniture from companies like Osler (and its British competitors, Defries & Sons and the Coalbourne Hill Glass Works) had another distinct advantage. Because the glass cutting was geometric, not figural, the decoration was acceptable to Muslim rulers.'
Source NY Times 16 June 2006