Topic: Heavy cut glass lidded pot.

[Ekimp]

Had this a while and thought it was American style cutting but that it was probably going to be Eastern European, it was purchased in England. Recently there have been a couple of Val Saint Lambert posts that made me consider a possible VSL attribution for this pot? There’s a decanter on eBay with a label that has similar styles of cutting:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LARGE-ANTIQUE-VAL-SAINT-LAMBERT-EMERALD-GREEN-DECANTER-CUT-CRYSTAL-ANTIQUE/142543709991

Would the pot be a Bonbonniere? It could do with a handle on the lid! It’s about 16cm diameter, 12cm tall and 1.9kg. Thanks for any info.

[Anne Tique]

Difficult, so many patterns and they all have something that your bonbonnière has in its pattern, there are subtle differences every time but a pattern's a pattern and should be found back the same way on different items. Having said that, like I mentioned in a different post, everything was possible at VSL. I'm not sure though if these subtle differences would have been important enough to be altered to make it a customised order.

The closest I could find is pattern 'Louise', but the lozenges have three lines cut in them instead of 2 like on your piece.

Here's a link that shows the pattern Louise, just an example but I have checked and it is exactly cut like this on different items. You'll notice as well that the strawberry cut facets, like on your piece,  are missing on it and I haven't found an example of this pattern with it. They all have a line of olives cut underneath the pattern.

https://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/Belle-serie-de-4-verres-cristal-Val-Saint-Lambert-mod-Louise/254279826220?hash=item3b34423b2c:g:2YAAAOSwprpc8nqE

Several details can also be found back in the 'Floréal' pattern, it looks like a combination of the two, Floréal and Louise, but once again it is not exactly that. Please don't think I'm criticizing your piece, I find that looking at an item in detail can help attributing it to one or the other. Quality and symmetry can also be an indication and your piece looks like it is nicely done, from what I can see.


This not very common colour was used at VSL early 1900's an onwards but I only have seen it cut to clear and of course, it wasn't exclusive to VSL. Shape wise I haven't found anything similar with a lid  this shape but i'll continue searching. It's a close one but I can't confirm for now.

[Ekimp]

Thanks very much Anne, I was hoping you would have a look. It’s good to know that it wasn’t unreasonable to consider vsl and that it’s a possibility. Tantalising close...but a near miss is still a miss  . The general arrangement looks very similar to the Floréal pattern but as you say, it’s different.

The cutting isn’t perfect, on the lid some of the fans extend closer to the rim than others and in some places the cutting doesn’t cross precisely where it should - at one point.

[Anne Tique]

Ah yes, I see what you mean but from what I can make out of the image, that's not alarming really, that happens everywhere I guess.

I had to say to myself at one point, that I should stop being so critical, nothings 100% perfect on close inspection, no matter which house it came from, there's always something...I can't even draw like that!



I'm not saying yet it's a miss, it still might be a possibility, keep options open.

[Ekimp]

Yes, sorry about the photography. It must take a lot of skill to cut glass (and take decent photos ). At least with drawing you can rub it out or paint over it! I expect the last cut is the worst.

On a previous post you’ve mentioned vsl and Dorflinger sometimes getting confused and while searching I’ve seen some Dorflinger lidded pots with similarities. Like this one: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/22018352_dorflinger-cranberry-cut-to-clear-box

I’ll keep my options open and fingers crossed, thanks again.

[Anne Tique]

The one in your link is actually VSL, part of a vanity set  catalogued 1908.

[Ekimp]

Ha, very funny! 

[Ekimp]

This could possibly be St Louis.

The cutting is similar to the St Louis ‘Alaska’ pattern and Rouard’s A La Paix brand ‘Philadelphie’ pattern (that is possibly A la Paix branded St Louis). Those patterns incorporate a star in the lower panel but have the same type hobnail/lozenge panels alternating with the strawberry type cut panel.

As an example, this glass that ended recently on eBay is I believe an example of St Louis or A La Paix in the Alaska/Philadelphie cutting style:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Bohemian-Cranberry-Cut-to-Clear-Wine-Glass-/275171975200

(The cutting of the bowl and stem and overall proportions of the ebay example look identical to the A La Paix ‘Philadelphie’ although the cutting under the foot is more complex, so maybe it’s St Louis).

Ref cmog:

St. Louis catalogue. Alaska set page 51 of actual catalogue, page 79 of download:
https://www.cmog.org/library/st-louis-crystal-glass-co-munzthal-st-louis-lorraine-germany?search=library_collection%3A1d0177c8e770aca45677cbb079133d78&page=99

A la Paix catalogue, Set Philadelphie page 26 of download:
https://www.cmog.org/library/porcelaines-cristaux?search=library_collection%3Ab80eb24f4311a0b16a9caac1022620c8&page=179