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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Bernard C on November 11, 2010, 09:37:27 AM

Title: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: Bernard C on November 11, 2010, 09:37:27 AM: (http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10318/normal_DSCF1040.jpg) (http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10318/DSCF1040.jpg)

Click above image to enlarge.

(http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10318/normal_DSCF1042.jpg) (http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10318/normal_DSCF1041.jpg)

Averages â€” weight 1.2oz 33g, height 1.1" 29mm, diameter 3" 75mm, foot d. 2" 47mm.

What are they? The notched rim together with the short stem precludes their being lifted to the mouth. Their survival, lack of a folded rim, and light nature â€” the lightest (not the smallest) weighs just 1oz 29g â€” suggests that no heavy metal cutlery was involved in their use. Yet the set of six suggests that they were for an individual serving of something. A relish or condiment, perhaps? Or something light and fluffy, like whipped cream or a meringue nest? Lemon wedges or slices? The equivalent of a pineapple stand for displaying a rare tropical fruit like a loquat or kumquat? Or something else? Whatever it was, they weren't used often as there is no discernable wear to the base.

Any idea of age or manufacturer? I think they're British, but I can't substantiate that. Has anyone seen that lovely style of base star elsewhere?

Thanks for your interest,

Bernard C. 8)
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: Paul S. on November 11, 2010, 02:21:04 PM: your thoughts re possible units for displaying individual items of food (in the retail trade?) sound possible - or, how about apprentice pieces. Too large for doll's house material almost certainly I should think.
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: Ivo on November 11, 2010, 03:21:51 PM: I vote chocolate :hi:
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: chopin-liszt on November 11, 2010, 05:09:01 PM: Nobody suggesting holders for face patches yet?
This would suggest some considerable age, but I do know small glass tazzas were specifically made for the fashionable patches/beauty spots which were used to cover up pox scars.
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: johnphilip on November 11, 2010, 06:40:02 PM: Possibly for Caviar my favourite starter .
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: Bernard C on November 11, 2010, 07:41:36 PM: Thanks everyone for your interest.

Paul â€” I meant on the dining table, because of the set of six.

Sue â€” There is a patch stand shown in Hayhurst, Miller's Glass Buyer's Guide, which is similar but has much taller proportions. Also Ward Lloyd, Investing in Georgian Glass, seems to describe my little tazzas perfectly. He broadens their use to cosmetics and trinkets. I don't think these are Georgian â€” the colour is wrong. But a set of six? From a very well organised brothel? ;D

Ivo â€” Not sure â€” my Janet says not, and I always agree with my OH â€” except when she's wrong.

JP â€” Doesn't caviar have to be served on crushed ice? If so, where does the ice go?

Bernard C. 8)
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: johnphilip on November 11, 2010, 08:20:14 PM: Bernard my Russian friends never serve it on ice , too cold to appreciate the flavour but they do take it with Wodka straight from the freezer .Wodka Syrup straight out of the Bwottle . jp :chky: :thup:
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: claretjugcollector on November 11, 2010, 08:32:25 PM: what about tiny butter rolls ? tiny pieces of butter ... :ooh:
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: Bernard C on November 11, 2010, 10:26:38 PM: Thomas â€” metal cutlery again. One slip with a butter knife and you have a little heap of broken glass.

JP â€” I've just discovered that caviar spoons are traditionally mother of pearl, bone or horn, as metal spoons (excluding gold or gold-plated) taint the delicate flavour.
Best suggestion so far. :hiclp: :hiclp: :hiclp:

Any other ideas, anyone?

... and how about the manufacturer?

Bernard C. 8)
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: Cathy B on November 12, 2010, 07:09:10 AM: Goodness. I have a tiny tortoise shell spoon somewhere. Might that have been what it was for? I'd always assumed it was for salt.
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: Ivo on November 12, 2010, 07:21:38 AM: tortoise shell spoons are for mustard. For serving caviar at the table you do not use a fragile glass minitazza but a silver vessel with a silver spoon, or a glass bowl set in crushed ice.
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: oldglassman on November 12, 2010, 09:33:07 AM: Thought you could have my tuppence worth , I don't think these are patch stands by the date these were made I think patch stands were redundant,I have many Georgian patch stands so can be pretty sure about that , i think the fact they are a set would indicate as already suggested mini tazzas for the table and probably for some delicate little sugar coated sweets or chocolates,

Cheers ,
Peter.
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: chopin-liszt on November 12, 2010, 10:48:12 AM: Good to have your input Peter - I'm really not good at history, and though I did wonder if patch stand might be too early, I didn't know enough to keep quiet. :-[
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: Paul S. on November 14, 2010, 09:14:54 AM: I have just acquired a copy of Therle Hughes 'Sweetmeat and Jelly Glasses' - a small booklet type of publication (a pocket guide that quite literally really does what it says on the tin). The author discusses 'stemmed saucers or comports - stemmed plates and tazzas - which would be for finger lifted sweets such as flower candies, marshmallows, blanched almonds and chips of orange etc. etc., that required the tiniest of vessels. An illustration is then shown of 'a tiny tazza'.....although, quite incredibly, there are no dimensions give - an omission which, although I haven't yet got past page 11, seems all too common in the book. Although the illustration is different from those shown here, the similarity of possibly use seems quite strong. What do people think (whether in metric or imperial) that the words 'tiniest/tiny' might mean in practice?
The italics are mine, by the way, and apart from the fault mentioned, the booklet (for the cost) appears to be worth having.
Sorry to seem thick, but is the author male or female........I can't tell from the name alone. :-[
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: misha on November 14, 2010, 09:41:54 AM: Quote from: Paul S. on November 14, 2010, 09:14:54 AM
What do people think (whether in metric or imperial) that the words 'tiniest/tiny' might mean in practice?

It's a bit subjective really, not having a dimension.

But reading comments here to me, tiniest may be inferring the very smallest of what dinnerware of glass nature was at the time.
Hard to imagine anything smaller than 75mm in diameter on a table that could have serve any useful purpose.
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: Frank on August 07, 2014, 11:22:05 AM: Tiny to me would mean for a dolls house.
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: oldglassman on August 07, 2014, 11:53:59 AM: Hi ,
A few "tiny" Tazzas, mini salvers , patch stands , call them what you like , jury is out on the correct term but all heavy lead and early to mid 18th c , i think as said before probably for showing off at upper class tables with tiny little morsels created by the "chef" smallest is 1 1/4 ins tall with a 2 ins plate ,I don't think these were created for dolls houses.

cheers ,
Peter
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: Ivo on August 07, 2014, 01:47:30 PM: Perhaps tradesman's samples again? Miniatures to show what the full version looks like in 3D.
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: Frank on August 07, 2014, 02:02:24 PM: Yes, doll's house ones are really TINY :-)
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: Paul S. on August 07, 2014, 02:11:50 PM: To answer my own question........... Therle Hughes was a lady, and was the wife of G. Bernard Hughes - who was responsible for a number of books on glass and general areas of C18 and C19 collecting.

thanks also to those who replied - and with pix - re the question of tiny/tiniest :)
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: chopin-liszt on August 27, 2014, 03:49:06 PM: Paul, I have just found one of these little stands for you, if you'd like it?
2.5" at biggest diameter, 1 7/8" tall. It has the cut notches around the rim, but no star cutting on the base, just a tiny, polished pontil scar. Good ring!
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: SNJ on August 27, 2014, 03:57:48 PM: I can reveal their true purpose. Hat stands for leprechauns.
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: chopin-liszt on August 27, 2014, 04:09:29 PM: Maybe I should keep it then! ;) :P
Mother used to refer to my OH as "her leprechaun" because he is Irish. It was not appreciated. She thought he was wonderful (he is) he couldn't stand her (he was right).
Title: Re: Mystery set of tiny tazzas, comports or sweetmeats
Post by: Frank on September 02, 2014, 01:59:36 PM: Just came across these in a 1927 French catalogue, a wide variety of coupes à pied all available in sizes from 75mm so clearly a standard product.