Topic: Identity of crystal Specimen Vase

[Dubarry]

Greetings from a very warm Australia!

I have a mystery specimen vase I've been unable to identify.  It is tall, (height of a champagne bottle) made of crystal, with a good ping when tapped and has good clarity.  It weighs 225 grams and has a snapped off pontil.  The stem is a fluted ball and I think is hollow, but I'm not sure!  Does anyone have any ideas?  Hopefully, these photographs may help.

Many thanks, Barry

[Dubarry]

This photograph may be easier to view!

[essi]

Hello Barry, do you have access to the Lesley Jackson Whitefriars book?. On page 100,plate 18 2nd glass in from the right is a dead ringer for your glass in straw opal.
It would be good to hear from any Harry Powell experts. I'm not saying it is but it would be a fantastic find if it was.
The book gives dates of 1880s to 1900.
Good luck with your search.
Tim

[Dubarry]

Hi Tim.

Many thanks for your response.  I must admit I did originally think it could be Whitefriars but only searched catalogues from the mid fifties onwards and they are not a complete picture because online there are only a few years available. I didn't search earlier because of lack of any wear on the base, scuff marks are minimal and the item is pristine!  I don't have Lesley Jackson's book but it looks like I may be buying one soon!  As you say it would be good to hear from a Harry Powell expert.  My thoughts without seeing the picture is that the vase doesn't show much wear  - someone must have kept it in a cabinet for most of its life.  But again, it is Whitefriars quality!  It would be good to hear from a Harry Powell expert.  Thanks Tim for your speedy response and for giving me an indication as to what it may be.

Kind regards
Barry

[essi]

Have just looked in a catalogue from an Adam Partridge auctioneers dated march 2016 containing some lovely Powell glass . In there is a blue opal vase the same as yours.
It gives a height for this vase of 28.5 cm. How does that compare to your one?
Not sure if the images of this auction are still online (lot 107).
Tim

[Dubarry]

Hi Tim . . . I had to get some shut-eye!  I guess it's your turn now so I'll fill in the gaps while you're sleeping.  The height of the vase is 280mm or 11" on the dot, which seems very close.  The base diameter is 95mm or 3.7" with the rim being a mere 53mm or 2".

I would obviously welcome further assistance from any interested members.

Thanks Tim for all your efforts.

Kind regards
Barry

[essi]

Not much to report here Barry. If your vase is Whitefriars the pattern number is given as 1022.
The vase also appears again in the Lesley Jackson book as an illustration in the art journal of 1896, page 24 fig 58.
Do any GMB members know if the cracked off pontil is correct for that era of Whitefriars glass ?.
Not sure when the gadjet tool for holding the foot of the item took over from the pontil rod.
Tim

[Dubarry]

Hi Tim.  Thanks for keeping in touch.  I've had no luck obtaining a copy of Lesley Jackson's book.  There are none for sale in Australia on eBay.  I've tried all the libraries in the area and drawn a blank and have spoken to a lot of book shops around my area of Melbourne without success.  I'm going to have to try the USA or UK!  Postage costs are high when buying from overseas. Anyway, the search goes on.  I'll give it a few days and look again.

Regarding the pontil, the base seems to have been polished as you may see from the photograph, but just around the pontil's edge there is roughness where it stands proud.  Pontils are not an area of expertise for me so I have to be guided by a more knowledgeable person regarding this.

 I am surprised I can find no information for the vase on the internet . . . even putting in the the item number 1022 with Whitefriars references all that comes up are mid fifties images in their splendid colours.  I wonder if there is a chance someone could post a photograph of page 100 for me?

My wife found this vase in an op-shop a few months ago and said as she picked it up that it was a quality piece!  Our suspicions at the time were that it may be Whitefriars.

I really appreciate all your help with this Tim and will keep you posted when I have more information.

Kind regards, Barry

[KevinH]

Hi Barry,

You asked:

I wonder if there is a chance someone could post a photograph of page 100 for me?

Unfortunately, unless it is done with permission of the image copyright holder and the publisher, it would go against our rules on ADMIN: Using Copyright Material

But I have a question: Is the foot of your item folded "up and over" or "down and under"? I find it very hard to decide from the photos in the Jackson book whether the feet of illustrated items are a) not folded b) folded "up" or c) folded "down". I also have no idea whether Whitefriars produced examples of a particular design with and without folded feet. All I do know is that in the "big Whitetfriars book", some examples of "folded up" feet are clearly shown, but again I find it hard to see whether others are folded or not, and if they are, which way they were formed.

As many folk may be aware, I am rather pedantic in my views on terms such as "dead ringer" but in this case, I am happy to say that, like Tim, I do think the item referred to from page 24 of the Jackson book IS ALMOST CERTAINLY the same as yours - with the caveat that the foot may differ in its "folded or not" formation.

[Dubarry]

Hi Kevin and many thanks for your contribution.

The base of my vase is slightly raised around its circumference (on the TOP surface) and the smooth glass flows over the edge to the underside where it forms another smooth raised edge (UNDERNEATH) which I can run my fingernail around.  The vase rests on this narrow, underside raised edge.  I will attach photographs to help.

Thanks for your assistance with this!

Kind regards
Barry