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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: redheat4 on April 23, 2008, 09:03:49 PM

Title: Any ideas what this was used for
Post by: redheat4 on April 23, 2008, 09:03:49 PM
It is definately old glass judging by the colour and feel I would say Georgian it is obviously meant to stand as in photo 1, the handle/knop on top has a pontil mark, the diameter of the bowl is 10cm and height 7cm, there is considerable age wear arround the bowl rim as well as the high points of the pontil mark.

Any ideas as to use?
Title: Re: Any ideas what this was used for
Post by: Andy on April 23, 2008, 09:19:30 PM
Interesting.
You're sure thats the right way up?
Andy 8)
Title: Re: Any ideas what this was used for
Post by: redheat4 on April 23, 2008, 09:23:18 PM
The high points of the  pontil prevents it from standing firmly the other way up, also the majority of the age wear is on the bowl rim as it would be on a drinking glass foot.
Title: Re: Any ideas what this was used for
Post by: Anne on April 23, 2008, 10:28:52 PM
Two things spring to mind: either it was intended to be held in some form of frame/holder so the uneven base didn't matter, or it could be a stirrup cup.
Title: Re: Any ideas what this was used for
Post by: Bernard C on April 23, 2008, 11:24:02 PM
I reasonably certain that it's a small smoke bell, clipped into place above a small oil lamp on a little shelf, as used to light stairs and landings.   See here (http://www.peternoonan.co.uk/collectible/smokebells.html) for some of its big brothers, and note the ring on these for suspending them above room centre oil lamps.

Bernard C.  8)

Title: Re: Any ideas what this was used for
Post by: Frank on April 24, 2008, 11:04:50 AM
Agree with Bernard but another possibility is part of an upmarket Doctor's kit, leach thingy - though not the ideal shape for that.
Title: Re: Any ideas what this was used for
Post by: Andy on April 24, 2008, 12:42:24 PM
Ian,
you will have to try these suggestions out,
start by getting some leeches, pop them in and apply. ;D
Let us know how you get on.
Cheers Andy
Title: Re: Any ideas what this was used for
Post by: Bernard C on April 24, 2008, 04:50:25 PM
Quote from: Bernard C
... as used to light stairs and landings. ...

Not forgetting the possibility of their use on the railways and canal system.

Bernard C.  8)
Title: Re: Any ideas what this was used for
Post by: redheat4 on April 29, 2008, 05:29:26 PM
Thanks all, I like the idea of a smoke bell however I have searched lots of sites a cannot see one this small.

No Frank definitely not anything to do with leeches.

My wife suggested a tea mixing bowl to sit in a hole cut in a caddy, but I think this is too small.

Ian :chky:
Title: Re: Any ideas what this was used for
Post by: butchiedog on April 29, 2008, 05:48:24 PM
Hi,

it appears to be the bottom part of an item that was constructed by gluing two pieces together to form one whole item.

It could also have been attached to, fused to another piece to form one item and it just didn't fuse very well and came undone over time.

I have seen many loose, odd pieces that fit both ideas. --- Mike

Title: Re: Any ideas what this was used for
Post by: redheat4 on April 29, 2008, 07:57:28 PM
It is definitely a single piece in it's own right, not broken off something else.

Ian

Title: Re: Any ideas what this was used for
Post by: butchiedog on April 29, 2008, 08:07:26 PM
Didn't say or suggest it was broken off of something.

The items I mentioned were made as separate pieces and then joined together in some fashion to produce the finished item.

This sort of thing is seen most often with cake stands. Folks often end up with one piece or the other. The one who gets the top often thinks it's an undocumented tray by that maker and those who end up with just the bottom have all sort of interesting theories about what it was made for. I have seen this with stemware and comports too and neither piece ever appears to be broken, which is what makes things so confusing and at the same time fun ;-) --- Mike