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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Patricia on June 29, 2013, 09:26:35 PM

Title: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Patricia on June 29, 2013, 09:26:35 PM
My local auction house was having a general sale with a lot of junk boxes to go through.
In one of them I spotted a (for Holland) very rare hyacinth vase between a lot of other glass, like a very old flask for instance. I went to the sales-day and with only one person in competition I won the box, pleased as punch because of my rare bulb vase.
Once home I had a good look at what else I had unwillingly bought and out came this item.
I had seen it before (just don't ask me where and when) and knew what it was. Googling the item I became flabbergasted at its rareness. They seem to be around in some other European countries as well, including England.
Something to put your teeth in this weekend (except for Ivo, as no doubt he will know the answer). It's diameter is 6.5cm, height is 4cm 
 
Patricia
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Lustrousstone on June 29, 2013, 09:31:47 PM
I know. We've had one on here before. Should pay for your bulb vase  ;) It's a smoothing stone
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Ivo on June 29, 2013, 09:48:05 PM
I'm a blonde!
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: wolkenreb on June 29, 2013, 10:06:53 PM
You and me both Ivo. Is it for a door knob?  ::)
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: glassobsessed on June 30, 2013, 12:39:53 PM
Target ball?

Perhaps not, aren't they usually hollow?

John
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Paul S. on June 30, 2013, 02:19:23 PM
good find Patricia - Lustrousstone is quite right, and we have had them here previously although not for a long time it seems.    Don't think my wife would want to use one  -  thank goodness for electricity. ;)
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Ohio on June 30, 2013, 02:38:59 PM
A glass ironing/smoothing stone with a broken glass handle?
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Paul S. on June 30, 2013, 03:02:43 PM
unlike linen smoothers, these may well not have had a handle originally, although I'm not certain of that.         The scar may well just be where the pontil iron was snapped free, rather than missing an extension. :)
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Patricia on June 30, 2013, 05:28:52 PM
Yes, in English a linen smoother or a 'strijkglas' in Dutch.
Some guy at the university of Gent/Belgium wrote a thesus on them to get his degree in Archeology.
A most interesting story but unfortunately in Dutch. Nevertheless, here is the title of the book, it has some interesting pictures to look at: Strijkglazen in de Lage Landen by Frederik de Kreyger.
And Christine, like Ivo, you're never allowed to join a guessing game any more!! LOL

Patricia
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Ivo on June 30, 2013, 05:59:25 PM
was it something I said?
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: chopin-liszt on June 30, 2013, 06:03:45 PM
I was on a no-hoper from the start, obviously.
I don't iron anything, ever.  ;D

I was starting to suspect some sort of exfoliator/pumice/unwanted-hair remover or a sharpening/honing "stone".

You're not blonde, Ivo,  ???  ;)

I'm old and blonde. :'(
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Paul S. on June 30, 2013, 06:12:31 PM
the 'clue', Patricia, which enables this to be found on the 'search' facility, is the word stone to accompany your pix  -  if the word black is combined, then up pops the previous example. ;D

It seems that the C18 and early C19 examples had handles - often reeded or bobbin shaped to give better grip, and appear to have been made in a variety of places in Europe.           Apparently there was a purpose made small glass water sprinkler that accompanied these later smoothers, especially when pleating starched ruffles.                Very tiresome to use without a handle, surely.                 
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Lustrousstone on June 30, 2013, 07:00:53 PM
Aww that's not fair. I didn't give the answer away, exactly, unless there was too much mouse waving around  :'(
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Patricia on June 30, 2013, 07:43:55 PM
Ivo , Christine, I admire all that glass knowledge you both have and I'm only too happy to be able to come with my glass queries to you both. But when either of you get involved in a guessing game it's soon over!
There's just too much knowledge then  :)

Patricia

Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: David E on June 30, 2013, 09:32:46 PM
Quote
Very tiresome to use without a handle, surely.

Not so. Here's a link to the book (http://lib.ugent.be/fulltxt/RUG01/001/786/322/RUG01-001786322_2012_0001_AC.pdf) that PC mentioned. Amongst these pages you will come across an early illustration (p.29) that shows a woman using one (I presume) without a handle.
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Ohio on June 30, 2013, 11:23:36 PM
Aww that's not fair. I didn't give the answer away, exactly, unless there was too much mouse waving around  :'(

No Christine it was Paul. When he talked about his DW & electricity it suddenly dawned on my addled brain that I had seen of one of these in an exhibit on early colonial America many years ago & a comment was made on the exhibit card that was something along the line of thank goodness for electricity.
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Lustrousstone on July 01, 2013, 06:26:56 AM
I did put the answer in white though. I thought I did pretty well remembering something that had just four comments over five years ago. (What have I just had for breakfast?) Here is a link to the previous thread http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,19182.0.html
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: Paul S. on July 01, 2013, 01:27:28 PM
quote..................."Not so. Here's a link to the book that PC mentioned. Amongst these pages you will come across an early illustration (p.29) that shows a woman using one (I presume) without a handle."

no wonder they were all dead by the age of 40.........from chronic this and chronic that........bet she's got biceps like a stonebreaker. ;)
Title: Re: THIS IS NOT A PAPERWEIGHT, But What Is It???
Post by: dirk. on July 01, 2013, 06:08:41 PM
And if you look for the german version the terms would be ´Glättstein´, ´Gniddelstein´ or ´Bügelstein´.
(suppose they also sound very german?)  ;D