Topic: possible liner for bulb vase.

[Paul S.]

or, of course, nothing remotely to do with a bulb vase.                Both items found today, and although now reasonably clean, there was limescale/water staining etc. to both, about equally  -  so had been used together and definitely for growing bulbs, presumably.         Some staining still remains on the insert which, when in situ, sits on the inner shoulder of the vase, quite neatly.         Height of vase is about 180mm and that of the insert about 135mm.
These Matthey Crinkle decorated bulb vases are still quite common at times, despite being made I guess somewhere back in the fifties, in Czechoslovakia, and imported into the U.K. (for decoration, apparently).

There's no mention in Patricia's book of anything similar, although I'm aware there were tube liners designed to protect roots when changing water - which were hollow.

Do people think this is just a piece of imagination on someone's part, or might such an insert have been available when these vases were new??
Thanks for looking, and thanks to Patricia for the information in her very useful bulb book

[Paul S.]

that should have read.................Both items found today, together - with the insert inside the vase.

[Lustrousstone]

Definitely not, there's no room for the poor roots to grow

[Paul S.]

o.k., thanks for that  -  out it goes then

[Nemmie]

Is it a candle holder from an Epergne?

[Paul S.]

In view of its straight sides, I wouldn't have thought that a candle would sit safely in a cone shaped holder  -  however, you may have a point in that the shape is remeniscent of an epergne pocket, albeit a very plain one, but for flowers.
Since it can't stand on its own, then must obviously be a liner of some sort  -  the top and inner edge of the rim have been ground/polished/beveled, so some little care lavished.
Did make me wonder if it was a means by which to make the bulb vase more versatile - by creating a reduced capacity to suit smaller bulbs say.

P.S.       I'd never thought of candle holders being classed as epergnes   -   only ever thought of them as holding flowers (or perhaps sweetmeat concoctions).

[Nemmie]

I have seen them with flower holders and additional candle holding parts to light the flowers.

I do have something similarly plain that I dug up at some point (literally). It is milky glass though and has an iridescence.

[Paul S.]

quote..............."It is milky glass though and has an iridescence."            If your example came from the ground, then very probably the soil has created some degree of 'glass sickness', which give the surface an iridescent effect  (rainbow hued)  -  do you think that is the cause of your iridescence?             I did a little dump digging centuries ago and remember seeing this effect on lots of glass that came out of the ground  -  more noticable on clear glass from what I remember  -  seen often on Roman glass.                  But must stop, we are digressing too much

Illuminating the flowers sounds very effective  -  never seen anything like that. 
               

[Lustrousstone]

You can get modern display thingies where a glass vases/candle holders slip into rings in a metal frame: sort of a modern erpergne

[Patricia]

Paul, not a liner. Bulb vases never had liners, not even when new.
Also not for smaller bulbs, they would get a smaller vase.
What you have is a flower vase that once upon a time had a holder.
They were popular in the 1920s till the 1940s.
Just look for something that will hold the vase and then you can use it again.

Patricia