Topic: Edinburgh E.&L. Crystal platter

[Paul S.]

not sure if it is a platter, cake tray or  even a trinket tray, but attractive cutting and at least we know who made it.
Something like 11.5" (290 mm) long.

According to Roger Dodsworth's 'British Glass between the wars', this backstamp - using the word crystal in the mark - was in use from about 1927 and on through the 1930's but the condition of the piece suggests it might be more recent in date.

If anyone knows a pattern name or has a better suggestion for the date of the mark, it would be great to know.   thanks

[chopin-liszt]

I found the dates for E&L Crystal here.
http://www.scotlandsglass.co.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=182&Itemid=6
I recently had to, found a biscuit barrel with this mark on it. Sometimes older glass just didn't get used a lot, or shoved in a cabinet and left alone. It can be remarkably unworn. My (not staying mine!) biscuit barrel is remarkably unworn.

My brother might be able to find a pattern name, I'll ask him.

[Paul S.]

thanks for that Sue - appreciate the help.            So, looks to be a mark used up until the end of the 1930's, which does run counter to my first thoughts bearing in mind the lack of wear - honestly it looks to have been made in the last five years - but am sure you're right about some things not seeing a lot of use.              Can't imagine glass biscuit barrels having been in fashion for many a long year - think they were popular in the couple of decades prior to the second war and perhaps a little after.           I've also have a couple of them, but without provenance - oval in cross-section - I think it was a deco shape - it seems quaint now, and don't think there is another piece of utility glass that shares this shape - perhaps a small mustard maybe.   

Discounting drinking glasses, I don't see much E. & L. older pieces down here, probably all up your neck of the woods.              Look forward to hearing some time if your brother is able to find a pattern name.  

[chopin-liszt]

Your plate looks a bit "art cut", that's the sort of thing my brother likes. I don't believe E&L did very much "art cut" at all. Here's the biscuit barrel.

[Paul S.]

thanks Sue  -  so yours is circular then, unlike some which were a sort of oval  -  attractive by the way  -  what is the height as a matter of interest?                  Would agree this platter is certainly not the usual run of the mill criss-cross mitres  -  it does have a more geometric patterned look.

[chopin-liszt]

Your plate looks a bit more "floral" than just plain geometric. Possibly semi-art cut?

The barrel itself is 6" tall, with the lid on, 8". At the moment, it looks even worse than usual, because I've stuck a bit of kitchen roll between lid and base to prevent any damage happening.
Even the base of the rim of the lid is polished and arrised.

[Paul S.]

quite right - poor choice of words on my part.      Would your describe it as a modernist art design? - bearing in mind the period from which it comes.

know what you mean gel about 'arrased - my oh give me some grief at times and then I'm well 'arrased.

But jokes aside............an arris is that sharp edge where two flat surfaces meet - usually a right angle.            The reason I say all of this is because I was wondering if you might have meant that the arris had been bevelled.
With glass - when two surfaces meet at a sharp edge, there is massive tendency for chipping  -  which is why often the arris is bevelled.

If I have misinterpreted your words then apologies ........

 

[chopin-liszt]

I was referring to the arrising being the bevel.
So the base of the rim of the lid is polished flat, and arrised. (to prevent chipping at the right-angled edge which would otherwise have been there. (It's not right-angled now, it's got the arris.)
I suppose modernist might be the correct term, given the time period - but it is all before my time.
I tend to use modernist in describing my preference in classical music, that encompasses much of 20th century stuff. I don't know how it is really used in other fields.

[Paul S.]

quite right - and everything is before my time too

[Paul S.]

Sue  -  Woodward (The Story of Edinburgh Crystal) says that "There are 14 substantial volumes of Edinburgh Crystal's pattern books persevered at Penicuik etc. etc. ............  I know we have spoken of these in recent years on the Board, but I don't know if they are still at that location.

Are you saying that Michael has access to these pattern books/catalogues??