the difference in shape of the feet between bat's sugar bowl and the piece of Lynn moulded glass shown in the link, is very noticeable, and it would appear there is a practicable reason for this - which have to say I was unaware of ............. but then Lynn glass isn't something you find everyday.
In the 1995 Delomosne & Son catalogue for the Derek Wilmot collection of Lynn Glass, there are something like six (five clear and one green) examples of what are called 'water bowls', three of which have what is described as a 'return base', which is similar to the Scottish Antiques bowl shown in the link.
According to the author of the Delomosne catalogue, those water bowls with 'return bases' were made with this base projection specifically such that the base would fit securely into a matching under-dish - the idea apparently being that the whole thing could be moved as a unit, safely, when serving at table. From this information it's possible to suggest that when sold the Scottish Antiques example was incomplete.
Of course, it's not possible to be certain - even if you have both the bowl and under-plate - that they actually started out life together, which is given usually as 1750 - 1780, although apparently examples with polished out pontils are believed to be of a later date.
I had assumed the terms water bowls and finger bowls were simply interchangeable, but having looked at the Delomosne catalogue now not really sure, as there are coloured examples included in the catalogue which are described as 'finger bowls', and they appear very similar to the clear water bowls.
The contentious issue regarding the descriptive name for this very distinctive glass with moulded rings has run for years, and much ink spilled, but it seems as a design it has nothing to do with King's Lynn (Norfolk, U.K.), and may have in fact been made in a variety of locations in Britain.
The fact that a fine quality white sand of great purity was exported from that area to London and Ireland during the C18, might possibly have contributed to the later misconception - but that's just my opinion.
As you might expect, the Michael Parkington sales at Christie's in 1997 and 1998 included several Lynn moulded pieces - mostly decanters it seems - but the catalogue for Part II did include a single bowl closely matching the example in the Scottish Antiques link. In the Christie's catalogue it is described as a 'Lynn finger bowl of ogee form, last quarter of 18th century - 12 cm. diameter'........... it too was without its under-plate.
Apologies for the long-winded note, but just thought it worth adding a bit to the Board's archive re these things. Catalogues such as those produced by Delomosne (and they have produced some real crackers) on C18/C19 glass, and past auction catalogues from sources like Chrisities, are massively helpful when looking to confirm provenance etc. of historical shapes and designs.
So for Christmas I would like a Lynn moulded decanter, ditto water bowl with under-plate plus ditto wine glass, please.
Topic: Engraved finger bowl? (Read 1609 times)
