Topic: Georgian/Victorian mystery object

[Manthorp]

Hi. I'm a passionate (though not financially well-off) collector of Georgian glass. I'm always happy to buy pieces with minor damages, as it means that I can acquire better quality glasses than I would otherwise be able to. I can learn as much from a glass with a chip or two as I can from a perfect piece.

I recently bought the illustrated object on Ebay as a bud vase, but I'm not sure it is. Come to that, I'm not even sure it's Georgian; First half of the 19th Century at the latest, anyway. The decoration is vine engraving on the saucer, and barley on the bowl, which might suggest that it's table ware (though it might also just be that vine & barley decoration was all the engraver did!). It has stones and waves in the saucer rim.

It's the inbuilt saucer that gives me pause about its function: I can't see what functionality a saucer with a pronounced turned-up lip offers to a bud vase.

I wonder whether it's a spill vase? In that case, the saucer would provide a place for the burnt stubs. Is that plausible? And can anyone think of any alternative explanation for its function?

[Anne E.B.]

I just wonder if its a glass version of something like this, described as a ring dish bud vase? https://www.rubylane.com/item/656453-R13074/Cutwork-Ring-Dish-Bud-Vase-Watson
I can just imagine it on top of a dressing table   Failing that, I haven't a clue

[Manthorp]

Thanks very much Anne. The shape is definitely right, isn't it, though they're very different sizes - my glass one is 25.5cm.

[NevB]

It does looks to be 18th. century in general appearance and with the decoration around the rim. It might be what remains of an earlier version of this Victorian epergne/centrepiece.

  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Victorian-Glass-Epergne/223676054181?hash=item341421baa5:g:u~gAAOSwgZ1XwBe0

[chopin-liszt]

Perhaps more of a flower epergne over a ring dish - for the lord's and lady's master bedrooms.
The youngsters or staff can make do with the smaller, less posh ones. 
Us both going "epergne?" at the same time, Nev!

But that main bit in the middle does look to be about right. I wondered about a sort of ground looking area above the stem and below the "bowl". I can't see it too well, but it might well be there and would be where the metal bits attach. 

[NevB]

Great minds....

[chopin-liszt]

I said more after looking at the pic you showed;
I think you've got it.

[Manthorp]

Thanks both. Inspecting the ground bit on the stem again I, too, think you've got it. Thanks very much!

[NevB]

It could well be that it was just a single vase in the more plain Georgian style, not like the Victorian ones of which there are lots to view online.

[chopin-liszt]

  Are you now searching for metal bits, baskets and curly glass loops Steve?