Topic: Victorian Pressed Glass Marbled Butterfly Posy Vase / Basket

[mhgcgolfclub]

Help please to confirm ID of this Victorian purple marbled glass butterfly posy vase. I recently saw another on in a local shop in clear glass.

It looks very Davidson or Sowerby to me. The rope handles remind me of Sowerby or Greener.
Length 6.5" or 16cm.
Height top of handle 3.25"or 8cm.
The vase is not marked.

Thanks Roy

[agincourt17]

An unusual and very attractive piece, Roy. Thank you for showing it

I've not seen another in the same pattern.

As to attribution - rather in the manner of a foliate basket which I think has been discussed on the GMB previously, but whose manufacturer remains unknown so far as I am aware.

Fred.

[mhgcgolfclub]

Thanks Fred

As I said I recently saw another one in a charity shop which was clear. In the back of my mind I was trying to think if I had seen one in marbled glass. The basket which you have just shown which is a similar shape was what I can remember seeing in the past.

Roy

[agincourt17]

I also have pics of the foliate basket vase in pale blue opaque glass and transparent brightish blue glass, but not in clear glass.

Fred

[Paul S.]

I've had a look at the Sowerby Registrations, but am sure this isn't one of theirs, and as we know many factories have produced this 'blackberries and cream' marbled colour - perhaps from the States?

Just as  personal comment, and could be very wrong, but I don't get the impression that the butterfly as a relief decorative feature on pressed glass was common in the period 1870 - 1910, but it does appear more often in the art deco period 1925 - 1940 on such things as trinket sets and individual ornamental ware................    which is contrary to what you might think, bearing in mind the Victorians were obsessed with collecting butterflies and lining the undersides of glass trays with hundreds of blue wings from Morpho species.
I've looked at the pressed section in S. & F. but no butterflies, neither can I see a single specimen in either Thompson or Slack.       With this colour of marble glass being common in the latter part of the C19, it is easy to assume this one is from that period, but it's only an assumption for now.

I like the head - more like a baby's head, or that of an old man, rather than a butterfly............  they don't have mouths as such, and their eyes are large and on the side of the head.

[chopin-liszt]

I saw one of these in plain white milk glass just last week. I inspected it carefully for any registration mark but could not find anything. I left it behind, I'm not fond of plain white glass and I'm practising leaving things behind.

There were prominent leakages at mould seams which hadn't been finished off.

[Paul S.]

the fact that these things - otherwise a design that might be considered rare - seem to be surfacing at a rate of knots, appears odd - do we think?

Practising leaving things behind isn't easy, is it Sue, but does the pocket no end of good and saves on space in the house

[chopin-liszt]

Unless he starts practising saying; "Well done!" while grinning widely and patting me on the head every time I do resist, I shall be desisting with my resisting.
It's simply not rewarding enough. 

[mhgcgolfclub]

Thanks Sue and Paul

After handling several hundred pieces of marbled glass over the last few years my thoughts are that I am pretty sure it English and pre 1900. It does not have the American look to me.

It seems to have a very similar look in colour as Sowerby , Davidson or Greener. I agree Paul that Sowerby seems unlikely. That still leaves Davidson or Greener or one of the smaller makers like Heppell & Co.

So for the time being will remain unknown.
I will contact a couple of the larger pressed glass collectors and see if they can add any extra information as to maker.

Roy

[Paul S.]

best of luck Roy in your searches.            I'm curious that suddenly we seem to have several - in different colours - surfacing within a short space of time - yet none of the books I have access to, include what is a very memorable looking design.            Let us know how you get on pls.