Topic: A pair of 'Bonnet' glasses I believe.

[keith]

They are around 3 inches tall, both with snapped pontil marks, lots of wear and heavy, am I correct ? 

[Paul S.]

looks good to me Keith  -  sometimes called a Monteith, and occasionally with a scalloped foot rim.            Apparently your shape is usually described as having a double-ogee honeycomb-moulded bowl, and think yours also has a flattened knop, and I'd suggest c. 1750.        These things come in quite a variety of designs, and some have cut decoration with Van Dyke type rims.

You really must get Bickerton Keith              Anyway v.g. finds.

[keith]

Thanks Paul, I presume Bickerton is the book to get ?

[Paul S.]

yes, it's one of the Antique Collectors Club books  -  covers drinking glasses and related such as jellies, custards etc. for the entire Georgian period.      Worth the money even if you collect only a few, but especially for when you find those Beilby's at the boot fair

[keith]

Must be having a senior moment, or two, already have the book ! 

[cagney]

Very nice examples.
We call these salts over here [USA]. A term carried over from early 20th c. collectors, as that is what they thought these were used as. Although there is no evidence this was the case. Unfortunately the term has irrevocably stuck.Your examples would be called diamond molded over here.
Possibly made as early as c 1770 in USA into the first half of the 19th c. Examples made in bottle and window glass highly coveted here. Lead glass examples very difficult to tell from English.

The cobalt blue example lead glass example pictured from my collection could be American or English. The light blue aqua lead glass example is probably American.

I like the term "bonnet" glass.

[cagney]

Google search "pattern molded salts". Yields some nice pictures.

[Paul S.]

very attractive pieces.                Going by comments in U.K. books, it's possible the date for the blue example might be nearer to mid C18, and the moulding is often referred to as wrythen  -  it's found often as a form of bowl decoration on U.K. made dwarf ale glasses, and sometimes even on stems.
As for shape (again on the blue example), the wide mouth is usually referred to as a 'pan top' - for obvious reasons I suppose, insofar as the wide capacity resembles an open pan  -  also makes such shapes suitable for use as a 'salt'

You don't mention height, but book examples are quoted as 3 inches, and this appears to be a constant dimension for bonnets/Monteiths ……
however, I'm wondering Cagney if your blue glass is in fact a pan topped jelly rather than a pan topped bonnet glass - this doesn't affect the age, apparently.
Again, going by the books, I can't see a bonnet with a pan top, though this was a common shape on jellies, and jellies are known with similar moulding and pan tops.

This is speculation on my part, and of course knowing the height of the blue example would settle the matter, but it does appear to be unusual for a bonnet to have a pan top.           Jellies from this period would be c. 4 - 5 inches in height.

[cagney]

Hi, Paul. Both pieces are just under 3 inches in height. The cobalt blue example closer to 2 3/4 in. The ribs more pronounced. A bit under blown in comparison to the aqua example. Or The aqua being a bit overblown in comparison. Two part construction, Rough pontil, etc.
The 3 in. size seems to be a constant over here as well. Most just under. Some examples attributed the midwest may be larger, but quite rare.

[Paul S.]

thanks Cagney  -  then I might suggest your bonnet with the pan-top is unusual and certainly classed as from the less common range of shapes for such pieces  -  coloured bonnets are a very good find, and IMHO nearer to 1750 I'd suggest.   
 
I don't know about other countries, but in the U.K. there seems to have been a passion for pan-tops on such things as sweetmeats, wines, champagnes and jellies in the middle third of the C18  -  perhaps they were trying to cram more booze into the glass.