Topic: Cut Velvet Blue Vase - Anyone know the maker?

[SoManyCats]

I'm incredibly new to glass collecting and recently picked this vase up. I think it's Victorian. It's about 8 inches tall, 4 inches at the widest part with a smooth pontil. (There is a piece of tape on the bottom that was there when I got it.) Thanks to anyone that can help me learn more about it!

Kerri

[catshome]

Have you considered Thomas Webb?  It reminds me of their satin airtrap pieces, but I can't tell from the pictures whether yours is airtrap.

[Lustrousstone]

I would look at Phoenix Glass from the US

[catshome]

Kerri I forgot to say hello and welcome!

I think Christine has nailed it again - I was unaware of the link between Phoenix Glass and Webb designs.  There is a slide show giving more information about this on the site below, and slide 26 has a piece that appears to be very similar to yours. 

https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/munciepots/phoenix-glass-companys-celebrated-webb-glass-18831888

Always good to start the day learning something new 😺

[chopin-liszt]

Hello and welcome!
For a beginner, you've started off with something rather interesting Kerri - you've clearly got an "eye" for this. 
Air trap would have a smooth surface, I think. This has been moulded, so it would not have a pontil scar.
A pontil is the metal rod the glass is held on when it its hot, so it can be worked. It leaves a pontil scar or pontil mark when it is broken off when the item is finished.

One of my personal huge bugbears is it getting called a pontil. It's incredibly common and folk seem to get into the habit.
Finished glass does not come with a big metal rod stuck on it.

[SoManyCats]

Have you considered Thomas Webb?  It reminds me of their satin airtrap pieces, but I can't tell from the pictures whether yours is airtrap.

Thank you! Webb was the first name I heard when looking into Victorian pieces. I had to look up the meaning of air trap (I am truely learning as I go here) but it does not appear to be such.

[SoManyCats]

I would look at Phoenix Glass from the US

It looks a lot like some of the pieces that come up when I search their name. Thank you!

[SoManyCats]

Kerri I forgot to say hello and welcome!

I think Christine has nailed it again - I was unaware of the link between Phoenix Glass and Webb designs.  There is a slide show giving more information about this on the site below, and slide 26 has a piece that appears to be very similar to yours. 

https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/munciepots/phoenix-glass-companys-celebrated-webb-glass-18831888

Always good to start the day learning something new 😺

Thank you so much for this slide show resource. I can't believe Phoenix only produced these for less than five years. This has been super informative.

[SoManyCats]

Hello and welcome!
For a beginner, you've started off with something rather interesting Kerri - you've clearly got an "eye" for this. 
Air trap would have a smooth surface, I think. This has been moulded, so it would not have a pontil scar.
A pontil is the metal rod the glass is held on when it its hot, so it can be worked. It leaves a pontil scar or pontil mark when it is broken off when the item is finished.

One of my personal huge bugbears is it getting called a pontil. It's incredibly common and folk seem to get into the habit.
Finished glass does not come with a big metal rod stuck on it.

Thank you so much for clearing that up for me. I just kept reading about people asking about pontils and didn't even think of it being molded. I'd rather get that straightened out right away so I don't keep making that mistake in the future. Thank you!

[chopin-liszt]

Thanks for not taking the correction badly!
We were all newbies to this at some time, we all had to learn as we went along - and it never stops. It's what makes glass such an interesting subject.
You should really try to get to go and watch glassmaking in action if you possibly can.
The more you learn about different techniques and how difficult something is to make, the better you will be able to judge quality.

I should also say, this soft acid treated surface you describe as "velvet" is officially called satin.