Topic: Victorian? vase with tubelined decoration, 'F' on base

[chilternhills]

I found this vase in a charity shop yesterday. It looks Victorian, but I don't know. It has a diamond pattern on the pale blue surface glass (over white) and has yellow tube-lined flower and foliage decoration. The rim is brownish in colour. It has an old-fashioned 'F' on the base. If I can identify the maker I intend to put it in the museum. Thanks for your help.

Anton

[glassobsessed]

The F looks like a 7 to me, possibly European. Take a look at Harrach, try air trap as a search term.

John

[Paul S.]

I'd agree with John - except that I'd say the 'seven' quite likely indicates Continental ....    certainly looks like satin air-trap to me.

However, I can understand the comment   ...    "It has an old-fashioned 'F' on the base"   .........    when I was at school that was how we wrote an upper case F in joined up cursive.....    and the upper case T being the same but without the flick on the down stroke.

However, I'm not as clever as John  -  I've not a clue as to who might have made your vase.             Which museum is going to be the lucky recipient?? 

[chilternhills]

It will go into Isle of Wight Glass Museum. We have a tiny Victorian collection at the moment, with some Thomas Webb, Powell/Whitefriars and John Walsh Walsh, but it is building up steadily. I am hoping this vase is British, since many makers, including Webb, used blue satin glass with the air trap diamond pattern. But I can live with it being Bohemian or something else. It is a nice piece.

[Lustrousstone]

IMO it's Bohemian. That yellow enamelling is typical. Not sure you could really call it tube lining, as it's glass; It's just thick enamel. It may also have had gilding over it but it doesn't wear very well. Look at it under a loupe and you might be able to see traces of gold.

[chilternhills]

I have had a careful look and indeed there are minute traces of gilding.

[KevinH]

Just out of interest, how is the rim formed?

Are the "tan" and "brown" colours added as "extensions" to the main white / cream inner? How far up the outside of the rim does the blue satin air trap pattern go?

[chilternhills]

Interestingly, the rim is added as a separate component in a light amber glass but it has been 'enhanced' being enameled with a darker brown colour along the edge of the rim. There are small areas of this extra colour that has come off showing it has been painted on. The attached picture just about shows what is going on.

[chilternhills]

Sorry, I forgot to answer the question about the extent of the air trap pattern. It remains a clear diamond pattern to the base of the neck, but it is on the neck too, where it has been stretched out, with long distorted bubbles of air.