Topic: Guy Underwood or Bermondsey glass help please

[chuggy]

I've got a very interesting collection here of glass fish a number of which are signed by Guy Underwood which sit in a couple of bronze and glass stands. I'll post some piccys later, but I've always thought these were art deco in look, but having started to look more into them it appears that they are earlier and the only references I've been able to find for Guy Underwood link him to Bermondsey glass in the period pre first war. Any further ifo on either him of the company much appreciated, and as I say piccys to follow.
Paul

[chuggy]

As promised piccys, i have 9 fish in total, though just the 2 stands, 4 of the fish carry the Guy Underwood signature, though 2 of them are clear glass, the other 5 are unsigned and are varying greens in colour. The 2 pictured almost have a pate de verre feel to them.

http://i19.tinypic.com/4i61c9x.jpg
http://i19.tinypic.com/2q3nl90.jpg
http://i13.tinypic.com/2rqd6rd.jpg
http://i13.tinypic.com/2hgh4qt.jpg
http://i12.tinypic.com/4dwyqrn.jpg

Paul

[BJB]

Hi Paul,

Nigel Benson is one of the best people to help you with these fish, maybe you could drop him a line and ask if he could look at the thread.

Barbara

[chuggy]

Anyone got Nigels e-mail address please?
I'm also wondering if this is the same Guy Underwood who was a famous dowser, the dates seem about right.
Paul

[chuggy]

A stunning silence on these so far, I'm sure that someone who can produce work as nice as these must be known somewhere!
Paul

[aa]

The glass that the stands are on looks like float glass, which would make the stands, at least, post 2nd world war.
The engraved signature looks as if it was done with a flexible drive and diamond point, which also suggests more recent than your first suggestion.

Don't know the artist, though, so could be way off. Can't tell from the image whether they are cast, but assuming they are, this would probably confirm a more recent provenance. On the other hand, you may have discovered a contemporary of Amalric Walter or Decorchement!

[Frank]

Adams observations explain things a bit. I looked before and thought they must be by another Guy Underwood - whose Bermondsey Glass stuff is pretty scarce signed but I cannot remember how the signature is done. The bases are odd and not what I would associate with the era. But as I could not pin it down, kept quiet.

[paradisetrader]

Mentioned in
Objects of Art in Metal The Russell Art Co 1934
"designs in glass by Guy Underwood"

also
"Modern Decorations by Guy Underwood and other Artists"
same date and publisher

I have a vague memory of this guy being mentionned during a visit to Peter Leyton's which is on the fringe of Bermondsey
Why not call them.
contact details at
http://www.londonglassblowing.co.uk/

Peter

[Lustrousstone]

See here Scroll down to lot 277

He also seems to have been a sculptor and a painter

[Mosquito]

I would have to disagree with Adam's observations regarding the bases. The glass bases are not necessarily float glass, they may be cast or rollered glass which has then been ground and polished. I have occaisionally seen glass bases of this type on pre-war French figures (just the glass block, with the figure glued/bonded directly to it), though they are uncommon.