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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Murano & Italy Glass => Topic started by: Pinkspoons on October 05, 2009, 10:29:17 AM

Title: Miniature wrythen & celery-handled tankards - C19 Venetian?
Post by: Pinkspoons on October 05, 2009, 10:29:17 AM

I've a full set of these miniature tankard-shaped  liqueur glasses with twisted celery handles and wrythen body, each averaging out at just under 2" / 50mm tall. I don't have an awful lot of reading matter on the subject, but they do seem in line, stylistically, with mid/late 19th century Venetian glass.

The quality seems exceptionally good, with the ribbing of the celery handle being very fine and crisp along every part. They have fire-polished rims, polished pontils and a fair bit of wear along the base rim. The glass is heavy, displays a lot of handmade variation, is slightly grey, and is slightly seedy in places.

Any clues to the maker, or alternative suggestions of age/origins, received gratefully.

Title: Re: Miniature wrythen & celery-handled tankards - C19 Venetian?
Post by: Ivo on October 05, 2009, 10:41:05 AM

Obviously the matching decanter is not there so the style of the cups is hard to pinpoint - but I would think Bohemian or French are just as likely as early 20th ct Venetian.

Title: Re: Miniature wrythen & celery-handled tankards - C19 Venetian?
Post by: Pinkspoons on October 12, 2009, 01:54:00 PM

Oops, missed this thread.

Thanks for the additional suggestions, Ivo.

Dear Mods, might this perhaps, then, fare better in the 'general' section? Ta.

Title: Re: Miniature wrythen & celery-handled tankards - C19 Venetian?
Post by: malwodyn on October 12, 2009, 01:59:21 PM

Would it be possible for you to post a picture of the base?  I'd very much like to see how they were finished.

Title: Re: Miniature wrythen & celery-handled tankards - C19 Venetian?
Post by: Pinkspoons on October 12, 2009, 02:06:46 PM

No problem.

They're finished with a large polished pontil that takes up all but a thin rim of the base:

Title: Re: Miniature wrythen & celery-handled tankards - C19 Venetian?
Post by: malwodyn on October 12, 2009, 02:15:44 PM

Thanks for posting the picture of the base so promptly!  Unfortunately it leaves me in an even greater state of doubt!!  You see, I have a small jug that has a similar "wrythen" pattern on the outside that I have so far not been able to identify - but mine has a hallmarked silver rim, and the hallmark is unmistakably Birmingham.  I'm not at home at present, so cannot post a photo of mine. However, the handle is from recollection, slightly different

In my jug, the "swirls" are carried on to the base, and there is no clear pontil mark, so I am not sure how the piece was finished; if it was, as I suspect, sheared off, the ground rim is covered by the silver mount.

Title: Re: Miniature wrythen & celery-handled tankards - C19 Venetian?
Post by: Pinkspoons on November 08, 2009, 11:40:22 AM

Could this be shifted to the main board, please? Thanks in advance.