Topic: Small glass cups engraved "Craigallion"

[banden]

Hi

I found 9 of these today and the engraved text is a bit of a mystery to me. The text is "Craigallion", which is a lake in Scotland and a 1880's ship. I can't figure out how they logically should end up in a flea market in Norway.

Some theories come to mind... A restaurant? A long gone brand of Whiskey?

The cups match the price lists of model "Cora" from Hadeland Glassworks in Norway. They are "olive-cut" and polished puntil. I guess from the style and Norwegian price lists, in addition to the font of the engraving that they are made 1900+-20 years.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Banden, Norway

[Paul S.]

hello Banden - welcome to the GMB.

Regret I can't help you with an answer to your question as to why these are engraved with this particular word  -  but would suggest these are custard cups from the early years of the C20.
Custard cups were very common during this period you mention (and of course go back a lot further), and continued for later than this probably - cut olives of some description being a common form of decoration on custard cups.          I have at least one with identically cut olives.
If we learn nothing else in life, it is that glass travels, and much Continental/Scandinavian material is found in the U.K., and doubtless vice versa.

You don't mention the size (height) - which is always useful - but I'd suggest they are something like 80 mm (about 3.25") tall.

Hopefully, someone may have the answer as to their origin - fingers crossed.

[flying free]

Hi and welcome to the board
Given the dates you mention for production of the Cora (1900 +- 20 years) , is it not reasonable to assume they were made for the Craigallion ship?  I'm assuming there must have been a fair trade of various merchandise on the ships back and forth between Scotland and Norway. Therefore not unreasonable to assume these glasses were bought in to stock the ship and then engraved for it, if the dates of the glass production fall in with the date the boat was launched?

Whilst you are here, can I say thank you for all the information you've posted on the Scandinavian glass website - I think I've  managed to identify an old Hurdal glasverk klunkeflaske thanks to your posts and photographs
m

[banden]

Hi

Thanks for the comments

With a little help from a friend I've finally managed to figure out the engraved name The glasses probably belonged to the house called "Villa Craigallion" at Fornebu west of Oslo. This name is mentioned in the Norwegian 1910 census and a biography about shipowner Klüver who bought the house in 1916.

This makes me think that the glassed are probably made at Hadeland who produced a very high % of the glass sold in Norway at that time.


Banden

[Paul S.]

glad to hear you probably have a result.

As we've said, it does appear that olives/cut hollows were a very common decorative feature on all sorts of stem ware and various table glass items, throughout Europe, and I'd imagine that many factories made custards with similar decoration.
However, pieces with engraving such as yours are always of greater interest, enabling you to relate the item to a specific country and period.

[flying free]

thanks for posting an update.  I have to say I'm now wondering why a villa in Norway was named 'Craigallion'?  and what link the ship owner might have had to the Craigallion from the 1880's?  Aren't you? 
m

[chopin-liszt]

There is only one lake in Scotland (the Lake of Monteith) the rest are all lochs.

There has been an incredibly long history of shipping between Scotland and Norway for centuries, going back to the vikings and currently consolidated by the company Christian Salvesen. 

[Alsretro]

Sue !!!! http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow_lakes.htm

[Paul S.]

oh Sue...........how could you let us down like this...........and we so rely on your for 'north of the border info.'

[chopin-liszt]

To be fair, the article does say the others are unnatural.