Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. > British & Irish Glass
Crack or Flaw in basket - ID = Davidson
Glen:
A straw mark is a unique characteristic - I don't believe that it is likely to ever be found on a handle (unless it was a most unusual mould and plunger) - and it isn't a split in the glass.
A straw mark is probably best referred to as a Shear Mark. It is caused by the cold surface of a pair of shears coming into contact with the hot glass gob (the gob is cut by the shears and dropped into the mould).
http://www.geocities.com/carni_glass_uk_2000/ShearMark.html
I would not call a shear mark a manufacturing flaw - it is just a feature of pressed glass. On a busy pattern, a clever glassworker could drop the gob into a part of the mould that was patterned, thus "hiding" the mark. Fenton actually developed their shears over the years, and added a smooth knob at the end of the handle - the idea was that the gob would be cut, dropped in the mould and then gently rubbed with the knob in the place where the shear mark was.
Cathy B:
Thanks for the clarification, Glen!
Frank:
Was not that long ago, I saw an eBay description along the lines of: "Straw marks on base are caused by shipping from the factory in straw filled containers." ;D must have been from that Australian glass book Cathy that mentioned as having some equally bizarre glass definitions.
Cathy B:
LOL Frank, I swear that's in there somewhere...
Glen:
Yeah, the straw marks come from being packed in barrels full of straw is an old chestnut. In fact it's absolutely true that the glass was packed in barrels full of straw - but that's not how the marks were made, of course. However, you can see how it gave rise to the name "straw mark".
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version