Topic: Stevens & Williams Sapphire Blue Flared Bubble Vase or Other British...?

[Greg.]

Hi All,

Would welcome any thoughts on this large flared glass vase with internal bubble decoration. Large ground pontil mark to the base with remains of pontil scar to the centre.  Thinnish clear glass casing.

My working assumption is that this is possibly by Stevens & Williams, the bubbling in particularly, reminds me of other S&W vases I have had.

If this is indeed S&W, would the colour therefore be classed as ‘Sapphire’ or ‘Silver Showers’?

Height: 8 Inches / Diameter: 6.75 Inches / Weight: 862 Grams

Many thanks.
Greg

[tonyatl]

I am by no means a stevens and Williams expert, but I am inclined to think that they did not make it. I looked through an auction catalog of a fine glass auction which had some stevens and Williams glass but the examples did not have the look and feel of your vase. the examples included some exceptional pieces with first rate craftsmanship. the crude pontil on your vase, plus its style did not seem to fit the s&w standard.

on the other hand, glass makers have been known to be quite varied in their outputs, so I wouldn't give up entirely. one clue to go with is the vase style which is reminiscent - though not exactly - of steuben's chluthra glasswares. I would do a search on s&w to see if they made chluthra. I tend to doubt it, but it could lead to something else.

[flying free]

I always find these quite difficult but might it be worth looking at Walsh Pompeian as a possible (although the bubbles might be a bit big and watery)?
m

[Greg.]

Many thanks Tony and M for taking a look.

Agree the base finish isn’t the tidiest, I suppose the depth of the pontil scar could be a one possibility for its partial presence. It is also interesting that the casing is relatively thin in comparison to other S&W pieces I’ve encountered. However, I wouldn't want to discount S&W fully at this stage.

I had come to the same conclusion that the bubbles were too big and watery to be Walsh Pompeian but it may be worth a revisit.

One additional possibility came whilst leafing through Hajdemach 20th Century Glass. There are some interesting comments on Nazeing and S&W particularly in relation to Elwell as a common customer for bubble glass (amongst others). Whilst generally looking at Nazeing examples, it’s difficult to find comparisons with similar bubbling, however, on plate 207 (p106) Hajdemach does show a cylinder vase with a more varied bubble structure, which is more in keeping with my example.

Although the shape of my vase is not an uncommon form, and would have been widely produced, it is a shape that does appear to have been produced by Nazeing as seen on plate 206. Perhaps it’s worth adding that I have seen more partially ground/snapped pontil marks whilst browsing Nazeing.

I seem to have possibly widened the field on maker, hopefully further investigations will provide greater clarity!

[glassobsessed]

I suspect this bowl is Stevens and Williams and a match for your vase Greg: http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,52893.0.html

Photos taken with my phone so not the best.

John

[flying free]

need to do some more investigating but the pontil mark finish makes me query Stevens and Williams.
I can see the similarity in the bubble effect though John.
Greg, yes, some oddly finished pontil marks from Nazeing compared to S&W generally (but that's anecdotal rather than definitive).
m