Topic: Georgian Sweetmeat? champagne or modern copy

[brucebanner]

Any thoughts on a date for this one, it has a good lead blue colour and a nice ring. Years of dirt trapped in the creases, scratches around the bowl and wear on the foot base rim.

It's a bit of a worry on age as i did not pay a lot for it from an antiques shop.


6 1/2 inches in height. 4 1/4 inches across the rim and 3 1/2 inches across the foot.

Regards Chris.

[Paul S.]

to quote from Ward Lloyd's book 'Investing in Georgian Glass'  -  he says "It is not always easy to determine whether a glass is a sweetmeat or a champagne glass.     "As a very general principle, if one can drink from the bowl with ease, the glass is probably a champage, but if there is any cutting, moulding, folding or substantial everting of the rim then the glass is certainly a sweetmeat."

looking at this one, with the sticky-out rim, I'd be inclined to say it's a sweetmeat.              If you have Ward Lloyd's book there is a very similar piece, described as a sweetmeat/champagne - in the top picture on page 50 (the last piece), and there are various similar pieces in Bickerton.
Date wise such pieces are assigned to c. 1750 - 1760 ish, usually.

This looks to have all the basic requirements of a period sweetmeat, but there is perhaps a limit to how much authenticity can be determined from looking at the screen  -  I'd have thought with your knowledge, and having this in the flesh so to speak, that you are in the best position to know - do hope that it is a good 'un though.

 

[brucebanner]

Thanks Paul it only cost 60 quid, it does look the real thing though, i'm a bit of a Jack of all trades that's why i worry a bit.

[bat20]

Looks all present and correct Chris,I know what you mean though for that money it does seem very cheap,what did the shop say it was?,and did they give a date.

[brucebanner]

That what it was described as, ive checked it all over and it has no repairs or restoration it's in lovely condition, having tried to drink from it i think Paul is right with  Ward Lloyd's quote.

[nick.a]

Hi Chris,
Saw this and thought it bore some similarity to your sweetmeat:
http://www.antiques-england.co.uk/products/a-georgian-antique-sweetmeat-or-champagne-glass-with-panel-moulded-bowl-c1760-code-9050
Kind regards
Nick

[Antwerp1954]

I bought a seemingly identical glass a couple of years ago from an auction house in the south west. When I received it I was very suspicious. The colour and clarity of the glass was wrong - too white or clear. The moulding was also not very crisp. These glasses were reproduced in the 1950s (?) in Czechoslovakia. I sent the glass back and the auction house returned my money.

I hope that yours is the real article.

[Paul S.]

sorry to hear that - presumably Stuart you had seen a picture of the piece before buying.             But it does remind us to be cautious with antique clear glass because there's a limit to what we can see when viewing on the screen only.             I get the impression that Chris feels happy with this one.

[brucebanner]

I think i have stumbled across it last night in an old book dated 1904, it's either made by the same glass manufacturer or it might be the actual one, the top ring under the base of the bowl is identical.

[Lustrousstone]

It's not the actual one; yours has a curvier base to the cup