Topic: Sowerby Candlesticks Reg 788735 from Sunburst Dressing Table Set

[KevinH]

I don't "do" Trinkets and Dressing Table Sets, but ...

... I have had a pair of Sowerby 788735 (Reg date 1933) "Sunburst" sticks for many years. They were glowing brightly at me in an "antiques" shop and nothing else caught my eye so I bought them as "an example of their type".

It took me a while to find out what they were as, initially, I had read the Reg No. incorrectly and got nowhere with my searches. They then remained quietly on top of a wardrobe with many other odds and ends. Until now ... when I thought some of you folks might like to see them.

Even with what I hope are the proper details, it is not easy to find other examples, and hardly any complete Dressing Table Sets in the "sunburst" pattern on the internet. (There is an amber set currently listed).

The only example (a pair of candlesticks in clear glass) I have found in the GMB is from 2012 when Simba (Angela) notified us of her eBay sale item: Sowerby Sunray Candlesticks but note "sunray" rather than "sunburst"!

So, anyway, here they are for show. I will also add them to the GlassGallery Registered Designs section as 788735 is not yet listed. [Is it very, very rare? ]

Height: 4 9/16 inch (11.6 cm), Diameter of foot: 3 13/16 inch (9.7 cm) [strange sizes for English production - why not 4 1/2 inch and 3 3/4 inch?]. Uranium green - but in varying light conditions, they range from a "watery just about uranium" effect to the obvious "in your face" colour shown in my image that has been adjusted for 30% increase in contrast.

The main element of the Sunburst pattern (three primary rays and some curves) is on the underside of the foot but is difficult to see properly, and even more difficult to photograph. The adjusted photo is an attempt to show the "stippling" of the "rays" and also the fact that the rays spiral on the body elements.

[Anne]

Thanks for sharing your pics Kevin. I'm not sure which is correct: Sunray or Sunburst. I have this as Sunray on the GTS website here http://www.glasstrinketsets.com/cms3/english/sowerby/sunray along with pics of the various pieces. May I add your images to the page there too please?

[KevinH]

Hi Anne, by all means use my pics.

After a bit more searching (and applying a touch more care) it seems to me that "Sunray" gets more hits for the 790213 (1934) Design. And "Sunburst" gets more hits for the 788753 (1933) Design. But I can see that there are options for both Designs being called either "Sunray" or "Sunburst".

I guess we are not aware of whether those "pattern names" were a) created by Sowerby as per many items in the 1933 catalogue (which unfortunately does not include the 788735 Trinket Set), or b)  whether they are "collector names".

[Anne]

Thanks Kevin, that's super, I'll add them shortly.

I think I must have used for sunray as that's how the pattern is referred to in Glen's Sowerby CD Vol. 2. I don't recall seeing it called sunburst but I have just remembered there is a Bagley jug pattern called as sunburst though...  I wonder if that's where some of the name confusion comes from? The Bagley jug is shown here: http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,30490.0.html

Just for cross-reference I'm adding that RD 790213 relates to this Sowerby sunburst/sunray vase design: http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,40115.0.html

[theElench]

Some years ago I bought a large and a small lidded bowl at a car boot.  I couldn't I.D them as I hadn't found GTS back then.   They looked so Art Deco and poorly made I decided that they were cheap modern imitation Deco and probably gave them to a charity shop.  One lid was warped and wobbled, the legs were all over the place at different angles to the body.

But I am sure they were pink, unfortunately I don't have any photos. 

[Anne]

Oooh I have not found these in pink yet, nor have I seen a photo of pink ones as far as I can recall, although Sowerby's other sets did come in pink of course.  My target is to find pics of pink ones now.   

[Jayne]

For the record I've never seen Sowerby Sunray in pink either.

[theElench]

Since I made that statement I've kept both eyes peeled on several selling sites and anywhere else that parts of the set might turn up to verify my claim.

I have to admit that I haven't found anything in corroboration and begin to doubt my own memory .  I will keep looking though, if only to try to keep the thought of age related memory problems at bay.

[Anne]

The Sunray vase was certainly made in pink so there's every possibility that the trinket set was too, but it depends on quantity made / survived and how popular that was in pink.  If they exist we will find them in time.

[Anne]

Updated info thanks to the new catalogue info on Mike Tomlin's Victorian Pressed Glass website...
According to the 1936 and 1938 catalogues, Sunray came in four colours: Flint (clear), amber, blue and green. No mention of pink in those years.