A scarce little Sowerby boot / bootee in purple malachite glass, marked with a bold manufacturer's peacock head inside. It measures a quaint 8.5cm long x 5cm high x 3.5cm wide and weighs 106 grams.
(Permission for the re-use of these images on the GMB granted by Kevin Collins).
I have never come across this pattern of Sowerby boot before, but I believe that it is shown in Libby Yalom’s ‘Shoes of Glass’ (Antique Publishers, revised edition 1998, ISBN 1570800340). Apparently, the boot is listed in ' Miscellaneous ' and is item number 928 on page 200 of the book with a picture of a somewhat darker purple & white slag example than the one shown here, with a description that reads : “Purple / white slag bootee with a mostly stippled surface except for a smooth toe area. It has laces and five lace holes on each side. The heel and sole are hollow. Scarce shoe, also known in crystal. 3 3/8 " long , 2 " high.” Unfortunately, I don’t have a copy of that book to refer to for confirmation of the information.
The only other Sowerby boot (as opposed to shoe) that I was previously aware of was their pattern 1990 ‘puss in boot’ paperweight which appears in some versions of their pattern book XI (1885), and has been discussed on the GMB at
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,17898.msg103478.html#msg103478and
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,54301.msg308013.html#msg308013Does anyone have photos to show of the bootee in glass or colours other than purple malachite, please?
Does anyone have any more information about the bottee, especially catalogue or pattern book illustrations showing a pattern number, please?
Fred.