Glass Message Board

Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: Glen on February 12, 2011, 11:37:09 AM

Title: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Glen on February 12, 2011, 11:37:09 AM

We're flummoxed. At first, we thought we knew what it was, but we're really not sure. It's a gorgeous piece of blue Pearline (96945 pattern) but the shape is not one we have come across before in this pattern. We'd really welcome your thoughts.

Photos and explanation are all here:
http://www.thistlewoods.net/Pearline.html

Glen

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Wayne on February 12, 2011, 11:43:11 AM

Hi Glen, what a strange coincidence!  I'd never seen one of these before until this morning...someone emailed me with a picture of one of these, attached to a mirror, to see if I could find a matching one for them.  I'll ask them for permission to post their picture here.

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: ahremck on February 12, 2011, 11:53:43 AM

I noticed the two (or more) lugs about the halfway point and wondered if it was a vase that fitted into a holder - I would suspect the holder would be cast metal of some sort.  The idea of it attached to a mirror would suggest it was for small items like a lipstick for instance.

Ross

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: mrvaselineglass on February 12, 2011, 12:46:24 PM

There is another Davidson pattern that is similar in style, and I have also seen it sitting in a metal holder and on each side of an old mirror.  That particular pattern is shaped like a vertical cornucopia.  As more than one pattern was made and is mounted to the frame of a mirror (and the cornucopia does not lend itself in shape to being used to hold cosmetics), it might just be a small posey vase to brighten up the bathroom.  The mirrors I have seen were large enough that it might have also been used in the front hallway to check appearance before leaving the house.  I personally think the way I have seen it mounted on mirror frames is that it was made as a small posey vase, but alternate uses could naturally be found.  The one original mirror I saw (complete with brackets) had a vase on each side of the vertical frame, about 1/3rd way down from the top.  That positioning would also suggest it was for flowers.

Mr. Vaseline Glass

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Lustrousstone on February 12, 2011, 01:20:35 PM

Mounted to either side of a mirror they could also be candleholders. Just the thing for the boudoir.

(Ross lipstick was actually banned in Victorian Britain because Victoria though it only suitable for prostitutes. It also didn't come in tubes until 1915)

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Glen on February 12, 2011, 01:59:16 PM

Wayne, Ross, Dave, Christine - thank you all so very much. It does seem that a metal holder is the key here - we need to hunt for something like that to see what the effect would be. It would look very pretty with a little posy of flowers inside, and how delightful it would be with the mirror image too.

Thank you so much.

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Ohio on February 12, 2011, 05:46:38 PM

Not knowing its age I suppose it wouldn't be a type of car vase that was held in place by a metal bracket collar. We had them in the U.S. from the turn of the century into the mid 20's when they went out of style...simply used as decorative in nature & some were fairly fancy. Ken

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: mrvaselineglass on February 12, 2011, 05:50:57 PM

Ohio:  This might have been a 'buggy' vase, but not a car vase.  the pattern was a registered design in 1888.  No cars yet!  LOL

Mr. Vaseline Glass

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Ohio on February 12, 2011, 06:01:36 PM

True its a bit early & probably too fancy although we had steam cars running in 1878 & gas cars by 1893. It just reminded me of vases used with collars like the Benzer I have, long shot SWAG. Not to hijack the thread, but Mr. Vaseline Glass...ever see a keg like this?  15" high X 23" circumference. Ken

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Glen on February 12, 2011, 07:48:02 PM

Ken, thanks for the suggestion, but I don't think it's the right shape or height for a car vase. I do actually have a Carnival Glass car vase and the proportions are quite different. This is more of a stubby shape - it would take a few short stemmed violets but nothing longer. And I don't think we used car vases much in the UK really (if at all). And of course, the timing's a bit wrong.

And as for hi-jacking my thread.....well, you naughty man! :hj:  ;D

Glen  ;)

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Wayne on February 12, 2011, 07:49:38 PM

Well I've had no reply back yet regarding permision to post the picture here, but basically, the vase is identical to yours Glen, except it's in Primrose Pearline.  It's attached to an oval mirror via a circular bracket/holder on the bottom of the mirror, which makes it into a very fancy wall vase.  The top rim of the vase comes to about half way up the mirror, and interestingly there are 2 yellow glass birds attached to the top of the mirror, which look like they will be uranium glass.  As mentioned here I think it is probably intended to hold flowers.

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: rosieposie on February 12, 2011, 11:42:12 PM

Where you thinking of something along these lines Glen??

http://www.fairy-lamp.com/Fairylamp/U-308_Mod.jpg

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: rosieposie on February 12, 2011, 11:56:13 PM

I just found this as well...a crystal wall sconce.....  http://leonardjoel.com.au/images/lots/146034_1.jpg (http://leonardjoel.com.au/images/lots/146034_1.jpg)

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Lustrousstone on February 13, 2011, 08:01:43 AM

It may not be crystal, but that looks like the one! Well done Rosie

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Wayne on February 13, 2011, 08:45:51 AM

They have kindly given me permission to show the picture here, so here it is in all its glory:

http://www.20thcenturyglass.com/images/items/victorian_glass/pearline_glass/pearline-mirrorvase.jpg

It's different to the one Rosie found, but I guess they must have used more than one type of mirror style.  I did wonder at first if the mirror was original, it's a bit hard to tell from the pic, but the person who sent it seems to think so.  The yellow glass birds were surprising, did Davidson make anything like that?

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: rosieposie on February 13, 2011, 11:07:59 AM

What a beautiful wall sconce Wayne, and I love the little birds there as well. Very chic!!

This is the site I got my picture from:

LINK SHORTENED (http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://leonardjoel.com.au/images/lots/146034_1_thumb.jpg&imgrefurl=http://leonardjoel.com.au/auctions_results_view.php%3Fauction%3D191%26year%3D2010&usg=__rUN2vsSbSPvsSEarapfvayMRIOw=&h=80&w=52&sz=6&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=bEjZ7keelfpmwM:&tbnh=79&tbnw=51&ei=xbpXTfLFH8a1hAeT__HcDA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpearline%2Bglass%2Bwall%2Bsconce%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26biw%3D1217%26bih%3D759%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=264&vpy=142&dur=490&hovh=79&hovw=51&tx=78&ty=39&oei=xbpXTfLFH8a1hAeT__HcDA&page=1&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0)

It was such a long URL, that I went to the thumbnail pic for the link.  I think it is sold now anyway.

Mod: Link shortened for you - see here for how to deal with those pesky long links:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,19557.0.html :thup:

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: antiquerose123 on February 13, 2011, 11:16:00 AM

 :hiclp: :hiclp: Very nice pic Wayne too.

Are the Birds on the Mirror glass too?  Did Davidson make them?  Interesting.  I learn something new every day.  Had no clue what it was for.  Thanks for solving that mystery!!

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Glen on February 13, 2011, 11:32:19 AM

Wayne and Rosie -  :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Amazing! Thank you both so very much. I'm amazed and thrilled to see just how it would have been used originally. I'm very grateful to you both.

 :fwr: from
Glen

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Tony H on February 14, 2011, 06:56:20 AM

Quote from: Wayne on February 13, 2011, 08:45:51 AM

They have kindly given me permission to show the picture here, so here it is in all its glory:

(http://www.20thcenturyglass.com/images/items/victorian_glass/pearline_glass/pearline-mirrorvase.jpg)

It's different to the one Rosie found, but I guess they must have used more than one type of mirror style.  I did wonder at first if the mirror was original, it's a bit hard to tell from the pic, but the person who sent it seems to think so.  The yellow glass birds were surprising, did Davidson make anything like that?

Hi Guys
Great topic nice find Glen.

Has anyone considered how the piece in the photo was put into the metal ring as it appears to be in between the top rim and the lugs  should it have been placed in the ring bottom first and allowed to rest on the lugs which is what they are for! ( Just a thought )

Tony H

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Bernard C on February 14, 2011, 08:13:21 AM

If you raise the vase so that the locating lugs locate on the ring as Tony suggests, the bird on the right is drinking from the water in the vase — that on the left has just finished.   With the vase in its proper position, there is almost no mirror surface remaining for use as a mirror, so the whole object becomes purely ornamental with no other function.

This is the best example I have seen or seen illustrated.   All the others have been like those shown in Silber & Fleming on pages 129 and 133, termed Wall Mirrors and Brackets, where almost all would function as a mirror unless you obscured the surface with a large flower display.

I've had just the one through my hands.   It was unattributable, with three uncoloured standard wavy-edged epergne flutes with bent glass supports fixed to their sides, the other ends of the supports mounted in brass cups that fitted into a standard de-luxe three-hole epergne block with screw-up brasswork with locating lugs for the two side cups.   Incidentally it's the only time I've seen a three-hole screw-up epergne block.

I suggest that this class of object started as decorated mirrors, gradually evolving into the purely decorative ornament.

Regards the pressing of the bird ornamentation, the technology was already well-known.   The first part of the great J.G. Sowerby's Patent No. 2433 of 15 September 1871 does precisely the same.

Nice one, Glen.

Bernard C.  8)

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Jim Sapp on November 01, 2011, 12:35:57 PM

I would be interested in knowing the diameter of the metal ring.  Clarke commissioned a series of mirrors to display his fairy lamps.  If the mirrored plaque was designed for a fairy lamp, it will be stamped "Clarke" on the inside of the metal ring.  Personally, I do not think the Davison posey holder is original to the mirrored plaque.

Jim
www.fairylampclub.com (http://www.fairylampclub.com)

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: angel2 on November 01, 2011, 02:17:49 PM

 :angel: :angel:

Nor do I Jim.  :)

angel2

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Wayne on November 01, 2011, 02:42:27 PM

I've emailed the owner and asked about the diameter + any markings, I'll post here if I hear anything.

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Wayne on November 02, 2011, 10:45:08 AM

Received a reply, unfortunately I don't think it will help much sorry:

"I actually do not have the item any longer, sold it to a collector who also had a blue one like it. From memory the vase could not be removed from the metal holder as it had a glass ring above and beneath where the metal ring fitted. It was all part of the same vase not separate. I only remember this as I planned to take it apart to clean the vase but was unsuccessful. Further than I am afraid, I cannot help you."

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: UKGLASS on November 03, 2011, 05:11:05 PM

Holy Water? or did they always have the crucifix?

Title: Re: Davidson Pearline - odd shape - whatizzit?
Post by: Jim Sapp on November 03, 2011, 06:07:51 PM

I guess I should show you a few examples of mirrored plaques designed for fairy lamps.  They come in a variety of sizes with one ore more fairy lamps. (I ahve seen as many as six on a mirrored plaque.)  Some have brass rings to support the lamp amd others has glass epergne-like arms.  It you look carefully at the ring, it is round on the outside and flat on the inside.  This is typical of Clarke's designs.

(http://www.fairy-lamp.com/Temp/Plaques.jpg)

The rings come in two sizes, Fairy (approx. 3"d.) and Pyramid (approx. 2"d.)  All are stamped "Clarke" on the inside. 

Jim.