Topic: Gray-Stan lidded dish

[Paul S.]

just as a matter of interest, you might like to see variations on the signature which have been recorded at various times  -  the first seems to be the example shown most often in books........      http://www.great-glass.co.uk/glass%20notes/mark.htm     -     so no hard and fast rule, although the hyphen seems common to these examples.             The word British is also recorded, and according to Leibe and Hayurst  there's a lot of unmarked material - known by comparison to existing signed pieces.             But still can't find this colourway anywhere.

The powder bowl to which I referred in Dodsworth, is only similar in shape (not the same shape) , and the colour is differently completely.

I'd have thought we had someone here who collected this name.

[flying free]

http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=40304.0;attach=72290;image
this is an image of a candle holder signature (was mine)
It isn't identical to any of the sigs you link to - I think op's looks similar to sig no 2, but to be honest, they are hand signed and so will not be a facsimile of each other but I still think it looks right.
There is glass online that also appear to have the solid white interior (which I'd not noticed before - I thought it was always streaky white?). - having just looked again they don't appear to be as completely white as this though -   And then there is the clear casing is something else I hadn't come across. 

There are collectors but I think only a few   It's very rare glass and Basil seems to have quite a lot of it 
m

[Paul S.]

your sig. looks more like the first, and possibly most familiar one, shown above - it has the consipicuous tails to the G and y, and with the word British is supposed to be post 1930.....   but obviously several hands at work with this backstamp, so no reason to think it's not genuine.                It's just the colourway that seems most unusual.

Sorry, don't know Basil  -  is he likely to comment on the GMB?

[flying free]

http://www.glassfairs.co.uk/Exhibition/May13/exhibition.html
no I don't think he would.
However it was his glass at the National in May and I didn't take my camera.  This is the only pic I can refind at the moment and none with that solid white interior 
m

[Emu]

Just got the bowl out of the cupboard and compared the signature to the 3 examples Paul linked me to and it does look most like the 2nd sig.

I haven't seen the Dodson bowl aanywhere on the net, just books for sale but they are so expensive, 60 quid for a book!!

I do have a few old glass books but can't see anything like it in them, only the bright coloured Gray-Stan vase.
I'm really intrigued by it now. Hope someone on here will know about it and if it's rare, or a fake. I hope it's not a fake, but at least I will know and put mind at rest.

Just had a thought  ....I been finding out about Elizabeth G-S and I read that she made Lalique style glass in France...What if Lalique , in retaliation or admiration, made this bowl in a Gray-Stanesque way?.....


Ooer...think my imagination is running away with me!! 

[Paul S.]

uhmmm    very tasty..........but it's not the white interior I don't think that's the problem  -  but rather the grey outer colour that's so unusual.         Just looked in Manly  -  but no help with grey, although a stunning signed piece made in the Venetian style (he says made without doubt by an Italian)  -  perhaps the same guy that made Basil's goblet

On the assumption the OP's is genuine, then whatever else, this piece has to be a very rare colourway  -  just can't find another anywhere.

[Emu]

Just looked at Basil's collection on the link you posted Flying Free, his are beautiful, makes mine look horrible and dull, no wonder there doesn't seem to be any more in the boring grey colour!

[flying free]

no I don't think yours is horrible  and dull  I think it's the absolutely perfect compliment to a selection of the colourful ones.  Imagine it in that display.  Grey is a very classy colour and perfect combined with brights

Paul did Manly have a name for the Italian glassblower at Gray-Stan?
m

[Emu]

Mmm yes I suppose if was displayed with some nice coloured pieces and lights shining on them , it could compliment them perfectly.

It is now shiny though. I gave it a polish with a soft cloth and it came up a treat.

[chopin-liszt]

There really isn't enough Gray-Stan around for it to have anything more than a very small collector base - it's very much a specialist sort of thing.

You have a suspicious imagination, Emu 
 but  when it comes to Gray-Stan, it was Mrs. G-S who got into a bit of disrepute over the making of some "antique" Irish glass, I believe - not Lalique or anybody else copying her!
Her story is quite interesting, in a gossip magazine sort of way, but I'm not sure how much can be said in public in writing.
I can't imagine somebody faking a Gray-Stan mark, although I suppose it is getting better known.