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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: bristolblueglass on July 10, 2011, 10:42:42 PM

Title: Cranberry Vase, late 19th. cent
Post by: bristolblueglass on July 10, 2011, 10:42:42 PM: Hi, Does anyone have any ideas to the origins of this piece?

This stunning vase, with applied clear rim, handles, and rustic feet, has been skilfully wheel engraved with a butterfly amid foliage on one side, and a sprig of fern on the reverse, then hand-gilded with gold leaf. This type of intaglio-engraving is typically French, but many English glass-houses employed French decorators, particularly as a result of the Franco-Prussian war, when many came to this country.

Thanks

Ben
Title: Re: Cranberry Vase, late 19th. cent
Post by: KevinH on July 11, 2011, 02:22:43 AM: I may be completely wrong, but my first thought was that the decoration might be Jules Barbe while at Thomas Webb. That butterfly is very distinctive and I am sure I have seen it before somewhere. But where, I can't recall.
Title: Re: Cranberry Vase, late 19th. cent
Post by: Ivo on July 11, 2011, 05:47:53 AM: Check out Sevres while you're at it.
Title: Re: Cranberry Vase, late 19th. cent
Post by: Andy on July 11, 2011, 08:38:24 AM: Baccarat perhaps??
Title: Re: Cranberry Vase, late 19th. cent
Post by: francis on July 11, 2011, 09:32:37 AM: Thanks for the suggestions so far. the suggestion of Jules Barbe is interesting - we have three or four pieces of his work in the Bristol Blue Glass Museum, but this piece, although it has the distinctive butterfly which was something of a trademark with him, is not quite in his usual style. Also, Thomas Webb tended to create a slightly more subtle pallette of glass colours. This appears a little 'brash' for them. Also, the design is rather 'ferny' for Barbe, but we do have a dish decorated by him from a little later, which has very similar roses, and is certainly by Thomas Webb.

Thanks to everyone who has helped so far.
Title: Re: Cranberry Vase, late 19th. cent
Post by: Lustrousstone on July 11, 2011, 10:40:16 AM: I'm not sure I'd describe the Webb palette as subtle! Cranberry was fashionable, so I doubt Webb left themselves out.