Topic: Georgian? Victorian? Edwardian? glass boat salt.

[brucebanner]

Happy New Year everyone, having spoken to a few of you regarding dating an item i'm struggling with various pieces, they either look older than they are or are older than i think they are if that makes any sense. This little salt looks Georgian, feels Victorian but could be Edwardian, it has wear to the base and a polished pontil, it's also uneven in shape and has damage to the outer ends, it's 3 1/2 inches across the rim 2 3/4 inches in height and 2 3/4 inches across the base,

My second question is, i'm looking at buying a piece of glass off ebay for my own collection, is it against the rules of this board to get help on a positive id to date etc as much as you can from a photo, i do not wish to throw good money after bad, i also know the perfect person for the job from this board can i contact them direct, regards Chris.

[Paul S.]

my personal thoughts for what they are worth Chris - based on my own examples from the late C18/early C19......................

the glass appears too bright and whitish.                   As you say, it is a boat shaped salt.

don't like the ball knop on a salt.

feet were rarely left unadorned  -  plain simple crescent cutting around the edge of the foot was quite common on round feet.         Obviously, there are a variety of foot types..........some were made by the 'pinchers', who's sole job was to make moulded feet which were then sold to the glassworks to attach to the bodies of the salts.                        Others are terraced (formed by cutting).              The underside of the foot is sometimes ground/polished entirely  -  radial cutting (in the form of stars) is also seen on latish examples (with a ground depression in the centre.

the decoration (think I'm seeing slice cutting) appears meagre for Georgian/Regency - they loved diamonds, strawberry diamonds, cross-cut diamonds, scalloping, Van Dyke rims, splits etc.   
So, my opinion is .........unlikely to be British late Georgian/Regency.     

As we've said before, it's never possible to be certain looking only at the screen, but my feeling is that the glass is not dark enough - and the cut decoration lacks that Georgian look of liquid steel.           Regret I know insufficient about mid-C19 salts to say this was from that period, so possibly it might be late C19, or as you suggest early C20, but probability is that you'll never know.               It doesn't look to be lead glass by the way  -  and are there any seeds/stones?

re your other question about a second opinion.                     Regrettable or otherwise, I doubt that you'll get a response to an open post on the Board asking for confirmation of provenance for an ebay item - understanably, it would be unfair to ask someone else to put their neck on the block based solely on a picture  -  it could be a way of losing friends, rapidly
I assume that if a seller is found to have mis-described an item then presumably you have some sort of recourse for a refund  -  but not sure of that.
I guess the answer is to buy only from reputable sources, or acquire the knowledge that will enable you to know the answer without needing a referee.          But I can appreciate the desire for something and the temptation to take a risk.

You're welcome to approach any Board member, by email, privately, but again I doubt that they will be prepared to risk your potential wrath should the deal go belly-up, which is what could well happen.            I assume the price is quite high, which is why you're asking for help.

Sorry to be unhelpful  -  if I get the time I'll post some pix of my late C18 - early C19 salts tomorrow some time.

[Paul S.]

just two or three to give the general idea of colour and decoaration - I'll try and add some more tomorrow.

correction............."whose sole job.........etc. 

[oldglassman]

Hi
    Quote,,,,    "You're welcome to approach any Board member, by email, privately, but again I doubt that they will be prepared to risk your potential wrath should the deal go belly-up",,,,

  I think you will find that there are some who would offer an opinion based on an image , I for 1 do this regularly in the world of 17th and 18th c glass .
  cheers ,
              Peter.

[Paul S.]

thanks Peter  -  I hope that will make Chris feel a little happier.               My take on the request was probably more from the point that Chris was really asking whether he should buy the piece  -  being mindful of not wishing to 'throw good money after bad'.              In other words it seemed that he was asking for approval that his purchase would be wise, based only on an ebay image, and bearing in mind that the piece is presently someone else piece of glass.   
Like most of us I'm happy to give an opinion on anything, but would probably not do so when linked to a purchase which would be based on my opinion............... perhaps that is because I lack your expertise        

Attached are a couple more Georgian/Regency salts just for guidance on cutting etc.

[brucebanner]

Thanks guys i have a couple of round salts that are not in storage i will put a pick of them here in the morning, i regonise the boat salts with the diamond bases, i have a few of those, they look very similar, they all look great by the way.

[brucebanner]

Here is the salt i was on about in my last post, it looks very similar to one of those posted by Paul.

[Paul S.]

Assuming this is not a reproduction, then the 16 point star would be an indication of manufacture around 1830 ish  -  and the diamonds look about right for the period.
As always other factors need to be considered in an overall assessment....... i.e. colour, and wear being important.
I don't think this is Peter's period, but would be interesting to have some other opinions............   Neil, Stuart, Chris...........??