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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Heidimin on March 06, 2008, 08:11:13 PM

Title: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: Heidimin on March 06, 2008, 08:11:13 PM
Does anyone recognise this pressed glass bowl? I'm sure I've seen it before, but can't think where. (Apologies for atrocious pics, but I couldn't bear to wait for daylight to get better ones!)

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9293 (http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9293)
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9292 (http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9292)

I bought it and its siblings on instinct in the hopes that it might be by Alexander Hardie Williamson for Sherdley. Tending to support this attribution:

- like Sherdley's other bowls of this period (eg Regency and Doric), it's part of a fruit set of one large and six small bowls

- similar size, weight and quality to Regency and Doric

- innovative use of pressed glass typical of Sherdley's post-war production (ie not imitating cut glass)

- Regency and Doric also have motifs on the base

- other Sherdley designs of this period have turned up with various forms of surface decoration (Johnson Matthey crinkles, screen printing, transfers, gilding, hand painting, engraving) - though it's not clear whether the decoration was carried out by Sherdley (other than the screen-printed tumblers range introduced in 1958, all their advertising shows undecorated designs) or by another company/ companies to whom Sherdley sold the blanks.

Against the attribution is the fact that I haven't come across this design in any of Sherdley's advertising. But there is a reference in a 1961 press release to a range of bowls and dishes called Snowflake. Given the motif on the base, could this be it?

Any thoughts or alternative attributions would be very welcome!

For reference, pics of Doric and Regency:

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9270 (http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9270)
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9269 (http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9269)
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9207 (http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9207)
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9206 (http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9206)
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9272 (http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9272)
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9273 (http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9273)

Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: David E on March 06, 2008, 08:27:33 PM
I'm thinking more about the enamel stars that might point this as being British. The reason being is that Chance used these on Spiderweb and they look remarkably similar (seen in green, red and blue, BTW).

If they were sourced from Johnson, Matthey Ltd (Chance's favoured supplier) then other British glassware makers might have also adopted them.

Tenuous link, but it raises a little hope.
Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: Anne on March 06, 2008, 11:20:43 PM
Heidi, I saw a plate with that jagged pattern on it last week... no stars though, just clear glass. No marks on it at all though. It rang a bell with me too, but I can't remember why.
Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: ChrisStewart on March 07, 2008, 08:18:18 AM
Hi,

Quote

Against the attribution is the fact that I haven't come across this design in any of Sherdley's advertising. But there is a reference in a 1961 press release to a range of bowls and dishes called Snowflake. Given the motif on the base, could this be it?

It's not the snowflake pattern.

Chris
Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: David E on March 07, 2008, 08:20:45 AM
Do you have an example photo or diagram of Snowflake, Chris?
Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: Frank on March 07, 2008, 11:18:13 AM
What company name do Sherdleys adverts get indexed under?
Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: David E on March 07, 2008, 11:32:28 AM
Possibly Johnsen & Jorgensen Ltd, its distributors - although from about 1968, it amalgamated with United Glass.
Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: Frank on March 07, 2008, 12:03:43 PM
No hit but here is AHW's Snowflake May 1961 PG&GTR. courtesy the Glass-Study
Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: David E on March 07, 2008, 12:08:55 PM
Great, that eliminates Heidi's 'new' bowl as this pattern  :clap:

Now what is it... :huh:
Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: Heidimin on March 07, 2008, 08:26:16 PM
Thanks, Frank - that's brilliant!  :chky:

BTW, is this advert up on Glass Study? I've searched on "Sherdley" and also looked for PGGTR 1961, but couldn't find it.

As David says, now we just need an ID on the mystery bowls.
Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: Frank on March 07, 2008, 08:28:07 PM
Not yet... one day. Patience is a .... pain I know!
Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: David E on March 07, 2008, 10:38:10 PM
BTW, is this advert up on Glass Study? I've searched on "Sherdley" and also looked for PGGTR 1961, but couldn't find it.
I guess it's the May 1961 issue, p592 if I've interpreted Frank's code correctly. I'm sure that one will be at Broadfield, unless Frank wants to do a page scan? ;)

According to my notes, I did photo a page from that issue when I was there... but this is a full page, full-colour advert (the one in my book, p116) :huh: ... unless they posted two adverts in that issue?
Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: Heidimin on March 07, 2008, 11:46:37 PM
Quote
... unless they posted two adverts in that issue?

Not impossible. I have a copy of Woman and Home and Good Needlework Magazine (don't you love the title?) from November 1959 which has two Sherdley adverts: one in colour for decorated tumblers, and the other in black and white for Radiance bowls. So I think there may have been separate/ parallel marketing strategies for screen-printed tumblers (aimed at the gift market) and pressed glass (aimed at purchases for the home).

Tumblers advert:http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-8561 (http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-8561)
Radiance advert: http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9212 (http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-9212)
Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: Frank on March 08, 2008, 11:00:58 AM
I'll send Heidi a copy of the scan.
Title: Re: mystery bowls - circa 1950s, possibly AHW for Sherdley?
Post by: Heidimin on March 08, 2008, 01:53:06 PM
Thanks, Frank - that'd be great.  :-*