Topic: Art Deco unusual pink glass flower frog Rd. 767986

[oyemicanto]

Hello
I recently bought this unusual flower frog and haven't a clue as to what it would be matched with.It looks to be displayed upwards with the petals pointing up so am guessing it goes in something with a deep recess to allow water to be below for the stems of the flowers.
It would be great if anyone has any clues to a maker or what it would be matched up with please?
Thanks in advance

[Paul S.]

unusual, I agree.                   In view of the style of the sevens, the assumption would be Continental  - had you looked at Pamela's encyclopedic lists?

[oyemicanto]

Hi Paul
I haven't looked at her site for a while...would I be looking at the  main site of the page or the musterbuch section?
Nigel

[Lustrousstone]

Looks like a Class IV job for you Paul

[oyemicanto]

I posted on my specialist Facebook page for Art Deco glass collectors and Angela Evans said to try on here.Most of my Australian facebook glass collectors on my page haven't a clue either.Will have a look on Pamelas site

[Paul S.]

   I was about to say I will have a look when I'm at Kew in a week's time - then thought otherwise after seeing the sevens........  but I suspect Christine is correct  -  obviously my brain not working too well - and since this No. is absent from the Blue Book then I agree it is most likely to be a CLASS IV Registration.
On the assumption this was Registered with the British Board of Trade, it will have been allocated in October 1931 - but regret I shan't be at Kew for a few days, but will certainly do the usual and post pix and let you know the applicant/Registrant for Rd. 767986 as soon as possible.

Just as a suggestion to the Mods. - it might be useful to add the Rd. No. to the subject heading.

[oyemicanto]

Thanks Paul.
Just as a matter of interest what does class IV mean?

[Paul S.]

quote from Jenny Thompson............     "The Designs Act 1842 created thirteen classes of ornamental designs including all manufactured goods.."

Numerically progressing upward from No. 1 they are .........
1  -    metal
2  -    wood
3  -    glass
4  -    earthenware
5  -    paper-hangings
6  -    carpets
7  -    printed shawls
8  -    shawls (if not printed)
9  -    printed yarns
10 and 11  -  woven and printed fabrics of various types.
12  -  woven fabrics not included in the above two classes
13  -  lace etc.

for whatever reason - a fair sprinkling of glass items seem to have found their way into CLASS IV - either for devious reasons or simply that an agent working on behalf of an Applicant was unsure of how the system worked.
When research workers compile lists of items from CLASS III, they make the assumption they have them all since all glass Registrations are supposed to be in CLASS III  -  subsequently other folk then find an item missing for the very reason that occasionally they've been wrongly placed in CLASS IV.
Provided we have the Rd. No., and of course the corresponding date of the original Registration is known, then searching the Representations books at Kew (National Archives) will turn up the item in question  -  albeit showing CLASS IV, rather than III  -  but it will always be found in the Kew annals.
Unfortunately, some of the C20 published lists of glass Registrations - from reputable authors - omit these CLASS IV items, which makes for some confusion, since it's a failing of most of us to assume that published lists are infallible. 

I've looked in the Blue Book (Glass Association publication), which continues where Thompson leaves off, which is the official list of Registrations from 1908 to 1945, but 767986 isn't shown.           This probably means, as Christine has reminded us, that this is a mis-classed Rd. No.  -  it should have been placed in CLASS III, but is probably lurking in CLASS IV - another miscreant - but only time will tell.

P.S.    the Continental 'sevens' may well indicate that this piece was made outside the U.K., but nonetheless Registered in this country.      The world of pressed glass is littered with items that were manufactured in Bohemia, Germany, Czechoslovakia, France etc., but Registered in the U.K.
Very annoyingly this IS one area where positive attribution of a maker can still elude us  -  although Registered in the U.K., the Registrant/Applicant is almost always shown as being domiciled in this country, so sometimes we have to live with less than complete information.

[oyemicanto]

Wow I never knew that.Thats one heck of a list.
I have seen items with reg numbers such as the cherubs base or lady with column comport base but have been told these are importers?
Really appreciate your input Paul it was Angela that said you were probably the best person that could help

[Paul S.]

it's for the world of pressed glass that Registration Nos. are of massive importance  -  there are a sprinkling of Registrations that incorporate some cutting - Stuart for example  - but the bulk of Applicants were interested in protecting their newly designed shape or ornamentation of their pressed glass.
Prior to 1884, CLASS III (glass) items were given only three years of protection under the Designs Act of 1842  -  subsequently this was increased to five years, and at the same time the Board of Trade offered the option to extend the protection - some designs we've had here went through several extensions  -  they must have been popular and perhaps money makers.

Some very well know designs from earlier in the C20 remain anonymous as to maker  -  they're Registered in the U.K. to a British address, usually and images are found in the National Archive Registers, but since the applicants were known to have been importers and agents only, then we know that these designs were not made in the U.K.                 Unfortunately, this may well turn out to be the case with Rd. 767986.