Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: scavo on August 26, 2011, 08:22:06 PM
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I have a lovely hand blown water/lemonade pitcher with a handle. Where the handle rejoins the body there is a little crack within the join - not quite in the handle or in the body either. I've seen it on a few pieces.
I'm not sure If I try to photograph it that the crack will show up - so, I hope I can get some answers without photos.
Is this common? Normal? Devaluing?
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is it perhaps a crease in the glass or where the glass of the handle did not totally apply to the body of the vase? a sort of 'gap'?
m
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It could be caused in the making but more likely a stress crack that occurred during use. Simply washing in to hot water could do it as the thicker area of glass might have stresses not removed in annealing.
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Always check carefully where handles are attached, it is often where cracks occur.
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Also never pick up a piece of glass by the handles... unless you bought it to use of course!
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ok, so when buying glass jugs should I consider this as damage and as serious as a chip to the rim or base?
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Also never pick up a piece of glass by the handles... unless you bought it to use of course!
or unless you have paid for it already!
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Worse. Cracks can grow.
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If it is within the glass, not extending to the surface, it's likely a heat check. These occur when the handle is attached to the rest when they are at slightly different temperatures. They may or may not grow (some say they don't), and often they don't seem to affect the structural stability of a piece. In my experience they may devalue a piece slightly but not drastically as long as it's clearly a heat check and entirely internal, but it may depend on what you're selling.
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my hunch re value/resale, like everything else, is how much someone wants it!
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They may or may not grow (some say they don't),
I have first hand experience. They grow. Only way to stop cracks growing is to drill small holes just ahead of the crack ends, the crack will not grow past the holes. Unlikely to be possible on a handle.
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Is this "crack" at the top or the bottom of the handle? A photo would help greatly, as we could also see whether the handle was applied by sticking the bottom first or the top first. The glass must be sheared off before the second stick, and that may result in a shear mark that many describe as a "crack" when it really isn't (especially when both jug and handle are transparent glass).
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Hi ,
In my experience with 18thc and earlier tankards etc that have the often found handle/body cracks, annealing related or damage related,both are affected quite considerably with regard to value.I can also agree that they can grow if the item is used,though it is now possible to have some cracks stabilized by leaching into the cracks very thin uv reactive glues,this does involve a little flexing of the area around the crack so is a potentially disastrous procedure,so far :X: this has not happened to the few i have had done this way.
cheers ,
Peter.
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Heat stress cracks do affect the value of glass, particularly if it is not a rare piece. I consider them the same as I do any other type of crack. To me, a crack is a crack, no matter who made it.
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Is this "crack" at the top or the bottom of the handle? A photo would help greatly, as we could also see whether the handle was applied by sticking the bottom first or the top first. The glass must be sheared off before the second stick, and that may result in a shear mark that many describe as a "crack" when it really isn't (especially when both jug and handle are transparent glass).
OK, I'll try and photograph it. I have 2 jugs (no pun ...) both with this 'crack' thing going on where the top (2nd join) retouches the body (there I go again).
I don't think the jugs I have are of any particular value. But I did buy them to use so it would be good to find out if I'm going to be able to use them as jugs, vases or kitchen ornaments.