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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: Highlandmack on May 21, 2012, 12:26:01 PM

Title: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: Highlandmack on May 21, 2012, 12:26:01 PM
Hi
I wonder if anyone out there can help with the identity of this vase
thanks Alan
Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: keith on May 21, 2012, 12:56:36 PM
Hello Alan,could we have some pictures of the base and rim,the dimensions also help ;D ;D
Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: Highlandmack on May 21, 2012, 01:38:28 PM
Hi Keith
many thanks for replying
the sise is 23cm tall the base is 8 cm the neck is 6cm and about 13cm at its widest
it has a smooth polished pontil and it is quite heavy
thanks again any help is welcome
regards Alan
Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: keith on May 21, 2012, 03:47:23 PM
Reminds me of some Royal Brierley cut glass baskets I've seen,it may be Bohemian,I'll have another look ;D
Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: Highlandmack on May 21, 2012, 03:57:17 PM
Hi Keith
thankyou very much for doing this
another question how old do you think it is
I only collect glass I do not sell
and the piece game from an antique dealer friend from his own collection and it was him that suggested it was Stourbridge
thanks again for all your help
kind regards Alan
Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: flying free on May 22, 2012, 08:03:46 PM
Is this blue cut to clear, or is it blue over amber please, or is it gilded in someway, or is it just the light reflecting making clear glass under the blue look yellow?
Apologies for the questions but it's quite difficult to tell from the picture.
m
Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: Highlandmack on May 23, 2012, 05:13:42 AM
Hi Flying Free
many thanks for your interest and question ask anything you like if it helps to identify this piece
It is blue over clear and is gilded
Again thankyou very much
regards Alan
Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: Bernard C on May 23, 2012, 06:32:17 AM
Alan — Possibly cut by T.E. Wood, a freelance Stourbridge decorator, on a blank by Royal Brierley (Stevens & Williams).   See Liebe/Hayhurst p.35.

Broadfield House Glass Museum should be able to help you further.

Bernard C.  8)
Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: Highlandmack on May 23, 2012, 06:56:30 PM
Dear Bernard C
Thankyou very much for your response
Although I cannot see it just now
I am very impressed by the knowledge of the members here and I think you  have solved my mystery
After your response I googled S&W and found a very similar piece
Link here (hope it works ) http://www.antiquecolouredglass.info/images/T%20E%20Wood%20pagoda%20willow%20pattern.JPG
which states exactly what you have said  and here is a picture to confirm
Unfortunately I cannot find ant information on T.E. Wood
So I now know who and I think the date is around 1880
I am very pleased and grateful
Kind regards Alan

[Mod: Sorry, Alan, but copying other people's images into the GMB is not permitted unless there is a statement of agreement from the copyright owner. So your "confrmation image" has been removed.]
Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: Bernard C on May 24, 2012, 02:21:35 AM
Alan — It's not that simple.   I had vague recollections of a problem with the Willow Pattern when I wrote my reply above.   Anyway Liebe/Hayhurst gives the date 1930s for the piece shown.

Now the problem.   Dodsworth (BGbtW) Item 7 is a decanter cut through blue to clear with the Willow Pattern by Charlie Swayne, who operated from a cutting shop at the back of his house in Delph Road, Brierley Hill.   Dodsworth gives the date c.1930.

Liebe/Hayhurst on Wood: "who used the design [Willow Pattern] on clear and cased glass".

Dodsworth on Swayne: "The Willow Pattern on clear and cased glass was his speciality".

So, as both sources are well regarded, I think your contacting Broadfield House is essential to resolve this.   Please let us know the outcome.

Bernard C.  8)
Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: Highlandmack on May 24, 2012, 05:53:38 AM
Hi Bernard
Oh dear just when I thought it was solved
I am amazed at your knowledge
obviously glass collecting is not as simple as I first thought
I have taken your advice and I have sent an enquiry in the first instance to the Broadfiield house museum
I will wait until they contact me as to what to do next
Once again thankyou for your help
Regards Alan

PS sorry MOD for copyright infringement never gave it a thought
Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: Bernard C on May 24, 2012, 06:22:44 AM
Alan — To get the best out of Broadfield House, I suggest an old-fashioned letter with prints of your pictures, including the base.   My approach to looking for similarities is to examine all the various cuts, so four views, one from each side might help, as it might be a match on a particular type of foliage or border that's important.   Also I suggest you enclose a large sae for their reply, minimising their costs.

Thanks for your kind comments, but I assure you that there are many others with far more knowledge than me.

Regards,

Bernard C.  8)
Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: Highlandmack on June 05, 2012, 01:27:24 PM
Hi Bernard
Have contacted Broadfield House and awaiting reply
I will inform you of the result
many thanks Alan
Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
Post by: Bernard C on June 13, 2012, 09:51:50 AM
Alan — More on Swayne and Wood.   Quoting Hajdamach II, starting p.11:

  • Charlie Swayne was photographed in his workshop on The Delph in Brierley Hill during the 1920s, a tradition carried on by Tom Wood in the 1950s, and to the present day by ....
    • So a 1930s overlap is quite likely.

    Plates 21 and 23 are of Swayne and Wood at work in their respective backyard workshops, while plate 22 is of a willow pattern decanter by Swayne.   Although the detail is not too clear, the pattern looks similar enough to your piece to suggest that yours was by Charlie Swayne.

    I'm looking forward to the verdict from Broadfield House.

    Bernard C.  8)
    Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
    Post by: Highlandmack on June 14, 2012, 04:29:31 PM
    Hi Bernard
    thankyou for the information (I think I need to buy this book)
    now in conclusion I have just received this email from the Broadfield House museum.
    Good afternoon Alan,

    Thank you for your enquiry your cased vase/carafe,I think this Royal Brierley 1930,s if not that,its an independent cutter/engraver of the same period I don’t know who may have done the work because unless these pieces are signed one never finds out its only guess work.If you happen to visit the museum sometime please bring it with you I would love to see it! its such a beautiful piece.

    Sorry I do not have lot of information.

    Kind regards.

    Please feel free to add anymore information you may have.
    Kind regards  Alan
    Title: Re: Stourbridge? any ideas
    Post by: Bernard C on June 15, 2012, 07:16:39 AM
    Alan — puzzling.   If so then how did Roger Dodsworth attribute the decanter in BGbtW, probably the same item that's pictured in Hajdamach II?   I appreciate that museums have to be cautious, but Broadfield House does offer an identification service, which has to be considerably more than "if it's not signed we don't know"!

    If you look at the two published photographs you will see that Tom Wood certainly wasn't copying Charlie Swayne.   The two men had their own styles.   In various respects your carafe/vase matches the Swayne decanter.   Note particularly the lowest band of decoration on the two which is a very close match.   I can't find any matching motifs on the Wood basket shown in Leibe/Hayhurst.

    As for who made the blank I can't really help.   If it was RB(S&W) then the clear blank was pattern 13567, dating back to early C20 or even earlier, but a blue cased version might have been given a different pattern number.    Obviously if RB(S&W) was selling the finished carafe, then it's reasonable to assume that the blank came from RB(S&W).

    Bernard C.  8)