Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Stall69 on September 15, 2011, 09:58:53 AM
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Hi, I have a weird glass object that I cannot identify its purpose or function, nor its age or maker.
I'm really hoping the wealth of experts here will be able to help.
It is amber coloured & appears to be hand blown as each segment varies slightly.
The over all length is 11 inches approx and 2.5 inches at its widest point.
Its relatively heavy and the glass is about 1/4 inch thick.
Each bulbous section has an oval aperture (on the top) and a corresponding flattened section on the opposite side (on the bottom) so that it stands firm with no 'roll'.
Fluid can pass between the sections.
I cannot for the life of me fathom what it could be used for and I will be REALLY grateful for any information/ideas others may have.
Thank you.
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:hi:
Hi and welcome to the gmb!
I suspect your mystery object is an insulator - possibly quite old, given the colour. I don't know anything about them, but there are quite a few folk here who take a very specific interest in such items, Have patience, and one of them will come along to tell you more, I'm sure.
(think about the glass things on the wires of electricity pylons) :thup:
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Wow! That was quick!
And more info in a few minutes than I've been able to discover in the 3 years I've had it!
Thank you Sue.
You've already pointed my research in the right direction.
I look forward to hearing further comments.
Cheers,
Steven
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You're most welcome.
Your location on the surface of the planet might help - it's often a good starting place for investigating an object - although glass does travel all over the world.
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I'm in the UK and this is where I purchased it from too.
Thanks.
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Well that certainly is a weird one. I'm sure it's not an insulator. It reminds me of fire grenades and target balls.
Could it be a "gang" fire grenade? If it's sealed and the fluid is original, then my guess is fire grenade. The fluid might be carbon tetrachloride in that case, so be warned. Original fire grenade are usually marked, I think, and this has no markings?
Other guess: if fluid is alcohol, might be an alcohol-fountain demo (they make hand-size ones now: hold the bulb, body heats boils the alcohol, which jets out in a little fountain and cools off [repeat]; all happening in a sealed glass body). But this is meant to sit horizontally, not vertically, so perhaps not.
It certainly is strange, and I love a good whatsit. Don't know what it is, and I am still thinking about it...
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Thanks for your reply.
Just to be clear, it hasn't got any fluid in it.
It has 4 openings, one on each on the bulbous compartments.
If you fill it with water, it can run freely (internally) from one compartment to another.
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Here is a clearer picture.
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It appears to have raspberry prunts on its ends. That suggests somethings perhaps more domesticated - (given it's decorated).
Something to do with ancient hydroponics???????
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That was my initial thought too.
Some sort of propagator?
Although the apertures seem rather small at 1 inch long by 1/2 inch wide.
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I was thinking there could be a reservoir of something in it, with four wicks in the holes, feeding something to four different containers????
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Umm...wonder if it is for something to do with plants? I'll send Patricia (she of the hyacinth glass vase fame!) a link, see if she can take a look. :)
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It's a posy trough. Webb certainly made something similar.
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Thank you Christine.
That seems the most appropriate use so far!
I've searched images but not found a similar posy trough yet.
Would you have any idea of its age?
Many thanks,
Steven
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:thud:
That's just too boring an answer! :P
Does it sit flat?
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Victorian. There is a line drawing at the back of Hajdamach's first book, but I can't look as my books are 300 miles away.
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Like these??
http://www.fieldingsauctioneers.co.uk/resultsLotDetails.asp?lotsID=64811&menuItemOn=2&salesID=101&hasImage=1
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Yep.
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So now we just need to find out who made Stall69's?
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It's Victorian, I wouldn't hold your breath! :24: :24:
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I agree!
It IS a less exciting usage that I had hoped for, but typical of my luck!
Each compartment has a flattened off bottom (at their widest point) as shown here.
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I think it's dead cool and it was fun to think about. :D Even though Christine knew what it was, probably most people on this board wouldn't have known, so it was a great learning curve for us. Thanks for sharing! :smg:
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>:D
Bet you could find a more exciting use for it........
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Obviously a component from a Dutch bong distribution system.
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Thank you all for your help, advice & input.
I'm going to guess its about 1920s-30s.
I still can't find anything similar despite hours of searching images today.
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It's Victorian, so 1880/90/1900 not 1920s/30s!
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Thank you Christine!
You're a star!
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I've just scrolled back through all the replies.
For some reason, I completely missed the posts saying it was Victorian and the very useful link to the picture.
I think maybe I hadn't realise the replies had gone on to a 'page 2'?
Not sure how that happened, sorry about that.
But once again many thanks, I am VERY grateful to all those that contributed.
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Well Stall69, I think a lot of us have learned something new, and to think my husband thought it was a Fractionating Distillation Column!! Look that up on Google if you dare!! :24:
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I dare not!
But the picture link of yours was GENIUS!
Even though I've only posted about this one item, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading through some of the other threads on this message board.
Not only was I struck by the wealth of knowledge people had and their willingness to share it, but the sense of camaraderie & community is very apparent & endearing.
My 'thing' is mid 20th century furniture, but, because of welcoming people such as yourself, I'm tempted to diversify in to the wonderful world of glass!
Once again, many thanks.
Steven
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Go for it Steven, glass is so diverse, so fascinating and so collectable.....you can display it all over your 20th century furniture.....you can't have enough of eiher!!
Start collecting glass fronted cabinets and glass NOW!! :smg:
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Just saw a Westmoreland glass (US) flower frog on Glass etch and pattern site
[LINK REMOVED]
Looks like it may be the same color.
Mod: Links to clicksnipwow removed as site is no longer connected to glass. Please visit http://chataboutdg.com/forums/ and use the search function instead
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Your link just goes to the general gallery page, but unless you find the same item, colour on its own is unlikely to be much help, even if you had the two items in your hand to compare. Countless glass companies worldwide have made amber glass. British or even Bohemian are more likely than American IMHO.
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If you decide to sell it, do let us know. I'd love to have a go using it for its original purpose :). thanks
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Yes I would like to sell it, but I would have no idea what to price it at.
I'm not thinking I could retire on the proceeds, but at the same time, I'd appreciate an offer that was considered reasonable.
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I see you refer to it as a 'flower frog'.
Is that the same as a posy trough?
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No, a flower frog is a part (either separate or integral) of a vase, rose bowl or centrepiece and generally has several holes through which to poke flowers. A flower frog or block will not hold the water, as the holes go right through. This is a stand alone piece
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Hi Stall69, a flower frog sits in a vase or posy bowl and allows the flowers to be supported in the water, and was used prior to Oasis being invented....although some prefer to still use flower frogs. A posy trough is a long shallow trough shaped vase for holding flowers, and some that have a continuous aperture may hold a flower frog.
The link chezholloway gave was for a long flower frog that would have sat in the bottom of a long vase.
If you google flower frog and posy vase you will see what I mean. :sun:
Sorry Christine, we just clashed!! :kissy:
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Thank you.
Well, this is definitely a trough & not a frog.
The piece Julie is referring to is this:
[LINK REMOVED]
and its really nothing like that at all.
Mod: Links to clicksnipwow removed as site is no longer connected to glass. Please visit http://chataboutdg.com/forums/ and use the search function instead
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I'm not really sure what it's worth as I've never seen one before until the link to the Fieldings site showed that one went for £50 although yours is not so fancy. Flower troughs on ebay don't seem to be very popular - look at completed listings and they're lucky to sell for 99p although one like yours hasn't been listed - or not that I've seen.
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Thank you.
Well, this is definitely a trough & not a frog.
The piece Julie is referring to is this:
[LINK REMOVED]
and its really nothing like that at all.
Mod: Links to clicksnipwow removed as site is no longer connected to glass. Please visit http://chataboutdg.com/forums/ and use the search function instead
I wasn't referring to that - I've never seen it before. I didn't mention a "frog" at all.
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Just saw a Westmoreland glass (US) flower frog on Glass etch and pattern site
[LINK REMOVED]
Looks like it may be the same color.
Mod: Links to clicksnipwow removed as site is no longer connected to glass. Please visit http://chataboutdg.com/forums/ and use the search function instead
Sorry, I meant chezholloway
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Yes, that's the one I saw. and here it is in the vase it was made for:
[LINK REMOVED]
Mod: Links to clicksnipwow removed as site is no longer connected to glass. Please visit http://chataboutdg.com/forums/ and use the search function instead
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Another example of a posy ring or trough here: http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,45585.0.html
John