Glass Message Board

Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic, Austria => Topic started by: Anne E.B. on November 11, 2013, 09:12:46 PM

Title: Inkwell on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: Anne E.B. on November 11, 2013, 09:12:46 PM
Any thoughts about this very odd looking perfume bottle would be much appreciated.  We think the metal hinge might be copper or brass, but it is very worn whatever.  I can't begin to think how its been made.  The larger ball which holds the perfume, has a thick base.  The balled feet appear to be solid.   It stands just over 4" high and weighs 342g.
TIA :)
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: flying free on November 11, 2013, 09:47:55 PM
I think I've seen this design but not as a perfume bottle, on the board Anne. Maybe in some form of paperweight?
for some reason I think it was discussed as perhaps being Czech?
m
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: Libby on November 11, 2013, 10:04:13 PM
Something very similar was on an antiques programme recently.   I wondered if it was a perfume bottle but they called it an inkwell.
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: Anne E.B. on November 12, 2013, 10:47:55 AM
Thanks for your comments folks :-*
An inkwell sounds a good bet methinks.  It's quite heavy and stable which an inkwell would have to be, plus the hinged lid would be more suitable for that purpose.  On reflection, I think perfume would evaporate pretty quickly because of the style of lid.  "Flick & dip" sounds more like it ;D  Great suggestion.
I had an idea that it might be Czech, but searches online/books and Marcus' CDRom turned up nothing similar - so far.
I'll have a search here to see if I can find in the p.w. section and will get back if I find anything.
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: Anne on November 12, 2013, 01:56:23 PM
I'd suggest an inkwell too, Anne, given its characteristics. I've not seen a perfume in this style before (but that's not to say there isn't one, of course!)
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: Anne E.B. on November 12, 2013, 04:52:00 PM
I've found a match with a possible attribution i.e. Eduard Dressler, c.1880s. 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-European-Green-Glass-Inkwell-English-Eduard-Dressler-Bohemian-/151030037094?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item232a177a66  The image is no longer shown here, but I found the ebay link from googling images.  Also found this one also attributed as possibly to Dressler [ * ] http://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/antiquedetail.asp?autonumber=84870  It is iridised like mine, but the lid is a different shape. 

The only Dressler catalogue I've been able to find online is unfortunately a 1930 one.

[ * ] [Mod: I have changed "Dresser" to "Dressler" as I think that was what was intended.]
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: glassobsessed on November 12, 2013, 07:33:58 PM
Seen a few of these and always assumed inkwells, the same form but with variations in function also crop up but right now I forget if I have seen one made as a candlestick or something else again.

John
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: KevinH on December 19, 2013, 11:24:37 PM
While searching a book on paperweights [ * ] I came across images and descriptions for four items that confirm the source as Eduard Dressler, in the Gablonz area. Dated c. 1886 - 1900

One of the items has a description beginning:
Quote
An ink bottle in form of a ball pyramid of 4 iridescent balls
(Diameter of the balls is stated as 32 - 33 mm) Visually, the item is a match to the one discussed here.

The other items are:
- "a flute-like vase on ball pyramid of 4 iridescent balls" (the main body of the vase has gilded relief decoration with white enamel dots and the three balls that form the feet have gold coloured dots on their upper surfaces. Diameter of balls given as 30 - 31 mm)
- "a ball pyramid of 10 small yellowish-brown transparent balls" (the balls are arranged in tiers of 1, 3, 6. Diameter of balls 21 - 23 mm)
- "a ball pyramid of 4 balls with an iridescent surface (other than the iridescence, the balls are clear glass. Diameter of balls 49 - 51 mm)

[ * ]
Paperweights - Historicism, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, 1842 to Present. Peter Von Brackel. Published by Schiffer 1999
Also, reference was made in that book to:
- Glas des 20.Jahrhunderts by G.E. Pazauruk / W. Spiegl
- Paperweights by Sibylle Jargstorf. Schiffer 1991. (Another "four-ball paperweight" is illustrated on page 83 of that book)
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: bfg on December 20, 2013, 10:06:35 AM
ignore that, I'm always miles behind  ::)

Mel
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: chopin-liszt on December 21, 2013, 05:07:42 PM
Does it have that very bright rainbowy iridesence on it?

I had a bud vase which had three ball feet like this, with the rainbowy iridesence, but Bubbles has it now.
I don't think we ever did discover its origins, just added it to the collection. :)
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: Anne E.B. on December 22, 2013, 01:59:17 PM
My inkwell had a rainbowy iridescence.
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: glassobsessed on January 07, 2014, 09:24:12 PM
Example here: http://www.madforglass.es/Harrach/Harrach-Octubre%20b%202013-007ab.htm

John
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: Gowdod on October 08, 2016, 09:24:20 AM
Dear All,

I've been building up a little collection of these.

Also:

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/145681-harrachov-inkwell-and-matching-paperweig

Interesting catalogue reference.

They show beautifully.

With kind regards

Andrew
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: Gowdod on October 08, 2016, 10:24:32 AM
Also:

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/198167-harrach-vaseline-uranium-glass-bubble

 :)

Andrew
Title: Re: Perfume bottle on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: Lustrousstone on October 08, 2016, 07:02:12 PM
I have this one http://lustrousstone.co.uk/cpg/displayimage.php?pid=743
Title: Re: Inkwell on three ball feet & hinged lid
Post by: Gowdod on October 09, 2016, 06:32:53 PM
Christine,

I like.  :D

Andrew