Topic: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......

[petet63]

I had a response from the post office museum. They looked through their archives and also forwarded it to someone else. They say this is not in their records and haven't seen one before. One suggested it could be an inkwell or inkwell holder. It's another route to look into.

[Alsretro]

Well done on the perseverance. My one is still sitting here and been staring at it recently but it still refuses to tell me what it is. There is that friendly philosophy of "it is what it is" but it would be quite nice if that "is-ness" could be established.
I have my doubts on it being designed to accommodate something solid such as a furniture leg or inkwell. The apparent square aperture is not really square as each side has an inwards curve and as I said on the earlier thread, there is a slight lip to the inside edge of the top. Can't really see it being an inkwell as the ink would dry out. I'm still keen on it holding a sponge but maybe not in a post office rather a bank or office. Did the Post Office museum people confirm if they had some archived material on the sponge holders that my Grandad told me used to sit on their counters to moisten stamps?
Alastair 

[SantaR]

Mystery this - I know you say that the pontil is a bit rough, but could it be a door-knob? The square bit could have enclosed or been enclosed and the shape would help the knob stay in place as it was turned, rather than turning itself, if you see what I mean.

Just my two-pennorth. 

[flying free]

Can you do a picture of it on a white background so we can see the colour of the body glass please?
Also a close clear picture of the enamels so the bubbles and can be seen and the colour of the enamels.
It does look like the green of Nazeing to me, although I've no idea what it might be.  If it is a sponge holder then I suppose it is possible Nazeing  might have made something like this en masse presumably.
m

[petet63]

Managed to sort copying my email so here is the reply. Still happily surprised with the responses I get to some very vague questions to businesses and collectors. I misread earlier as he said ink well holder.
A definite answer will not be found I think. The bank idea might be a place to look as they would spend more on office equipment than the PO.

Dear Pete,
 
Thank you very much for your email. I did some initial research on our catalogue and unfortunately could not find a description that fit the image or use described by yourself. I passed your enquiry on to our curatorial department. Our senior curator replied with the following:
 
I don't think this is GPO, happy to be corrected though. No real idea on usage, I would guess that is a holder for an ink well.
I don't think it is a stamp wetter
 
I'm sorry that we've not been able to give you a definite answer but hope that the curators insight proves helpful.
 
Penny

[orangeglass]

Just thought I'd add my thoughts to this thread - I agree with M in that it does look Nazeing like in the colour / bubbles etc.  if so that would infer it is British made for the home market? Nazeing did do "mass production" of small glass items so they wouldn't have had to be too expensive.

I think it is to do with furniture - I have some old drawers on legs with castors on, which drive me mad because every time I open a drawer the whole thing moves  - the dimensions of the inner square (4cm) would fit the legs - mine are about 3.5cm, to stop it moving about, and being made in glass would also (as has been said before) prevent the wood rotting from the wet mopping. The rounded shape also reminds me of those old sofa legs.

Perhaps we should be looking on the domestic front for research purposes! Country houses / domestic museums etc.

good luck with finding an answer,

Roberta

[petet63]

Hope these pics help. This did make me think Scottish originally. It is green cased in clear. The  rough part of the Pontil would not touch the floor as it is slightly concave. Very bubbly as you can see and a large stone in the base.  The majority of protectors are large rounds but making square ones would make sense. Take a look at this for a good use of these pieces  . I like re purposes pieces.

https://www.etsy.com/market/glass_furniture

I think I will just keep this as a curiosity unless.....Anyone in need of a Cased 'Art' Glass Pin Cushion 

[flying free]

Thanks for trying.  Unfortunately your pictures don't enlarge enough to see the detail on whether the coloured green enamel gathers around the bubbles etc.  Also they are not in focus enough to see the bubbles and the enamel.
Can you try again?  It really might help to decide whether or not a maker would have made it that way for example Nazeing or someone else.
m

[chopin-liszt]

 
Off topic slightly.
Roberta - to fix your sticky drawers and stop your thing moving, pull them out and rub a candle over the runners to wax them. No more sticking. This works for curtains that don't run smoothly too, rub the candle over the rail.

[orangeglass]

There seems be quite a few on there Pete - one square one in black but not as deep as yours - made in all shapes and sizes for round/ square legs / with or without castors!
Love the pincushion idea 

Is it worth contacting Broadfield House Glass Museum to see if they have any knowledge of these things?

Roberta