Author Topic: Davidson and Dogs! (Read 3691 times)

nicola · « **on:** November 14, 2006, 06:16:10 PM »

Hi Everyone,
I recently bought 'A short history of Geo. Davidson and Co Ltd' by Claude L. Fraser and was interested to read the following -

"Under Thomas Davidson's guidance and able administration the firm increased its range of products, and quite a number of specialities were being produced: such things as baskets, dogs, paperweights, piano insulators..."

I had always assumed that the Dog figures were made by Derbyshire
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320027276967
?

Do any of the pressed glass/Davidson experts here have any opinions on this, it all seems very peculiar!
Thanks
Nicola

ChrisStewart · « **Reply #1 on:** November 14, 2006, 08:14:42 PM »

Hi Nicola,

That is the only reference to the fact that Davidson made dogs. They are not illustrated in any surviving catalogue or recorded in the Pricing Committee or production records.

If the dogs were made in Thomas's time then they would not carry the Lion trade mark, which means it is almost impossible to identify which dogs, if any were made by Davidson.

Regards

Chris

PS Have you seen our book Davidson Glass a history ?

nicola · « **Reply #2 on:** November 14, 2006, 09:15:29 PM »

Thanks Chris! That is why I thought that it was so odd, because I would have imagined that they would have mentioned it in other places and the style of the dog paperweights are similar to that of the Lions... Although there are greyhound paperweights too aren't there? I am more of a cat person so haven't paid much attention to them before, until I read the little booklet.

I bought your book at last year's Glass Fair and it is so useful, I love it - it has been passed around all of the family and answered so many questions

Actually I should update my site and add it to the links etc.
Thanks again

Adam · « **Reply #3 on:** November 15, 2006, 02:18:51 PM »

I've got a vague feeling that the word "dog" in this context might mean one of the Victorian glass oddities like, for instance, knife rests or piano feet stands. I get funny feelings sometimes, usually nonsense.

I'd forgotten that Claude Fraser had written a book. He was my boss until he died suddenly (at a point-to-point meeting).

Adam D.

Heidimin · « **Reply #4 on:** November 15, 2006, 09:03:03 PM »

Sounds plausible to me. A bit like frogs, perhaps - anyone know why they were called that?

nicola · « **Reply #5 on:** November 20, 2006, 09:23:59 AM »

Hi Adam
Wow, it is brilliant just talking to someone who has inside knowledge. I suppose that it could be a generic term for glass oddities.

There are acutally more items than I quoted, here is the whole list that he states is
"such things as baskets, dogs, paperweights, piano insulators, linings for the plating trade, candlesticks etc"

The book is very thin and is probably more of a piece of marketing rather than a history because he concentrates on what the company did for WW2 and afterwards. Also, the pieces of glass that they have photographed are things that I would not associate with Davidson and in fact look a lot like Whitefriars!
Thanks for all your help
Nicola

josordoni · « **Reply #6 on:** November 20, 2006, 10:03:42 AM »

A fire-dog is a rest for logs in a fireplace, so the "dog" element could well mean a support of some kind, ie.g a knife rest. Does that make sense in this context?

A frog on a uniform is a cluster of braid, as a flower frog is a cluster of holes, - googling it, it seems there is a line of thought that goes back to Japanese ikebana, where they used supports shaped as animals, and the Americans who started to import these thought they looked like frogs in the water. Seems a bit whimsical to me, but hey! who knows?

nicola · « **Reply #7 on:** November 20, 2006, 10:06:10 AM »

I think that could be it then! Thanks

I have always been curious about frogs, although it tickles me when I see people trying to describe them on eBay - my favourite is a pen holder

Nicola

mhgcgolfclub · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2006, 08:35:16 PM »

Hi

Just to add a little about the Dogs , this is the opinion of one of the worlds largest collectors of these items and 2 other large collectors that it is possible to tell the maker, and this is what I was told when I recently sold a Vaseline Dog
"quote" Yes, Roy, this is a Davidson dog. I will send you a photo of the
undersides of J D and Davidson dogs side by side. The ridge around the
inside and the shape of the hole for the body cavity tell which maker is
which. The presence or absence of trenches under the front legs is not
significant. Both makers made their dogs both ways.
The picture on left is a John Derbyshire Dog and the one on the right a Davidson Dog

I have also been told by a collector of John Derbyshire who has family connections that the Davidson Dog on the right has a stepped base on the underside

Roy mhgcgolfclub

ChrisStewart · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2006, 09:15:48 AM »

Hi,

As there is no documentary evidence that these where made by Davidson, then at best one can say is that they may be made by Davidson. They could have been made by a number of other manufacturers as well.

The only evidence I am aware off that Davidson made dogs is the quote from Claud Frasers 1948 booklet.

Regards

Chris