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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: thewingedsphinx on July 02, 2018, 08:32:44 PM

Title: Dolphin footed or Gurnard footed toothpick holder
Post by: thewingedsphinx on July 02, 2018, 08:32:44 PM

Evening all,
I'd be grateful if anyone can confirm who made these tooth pick holders or spill vases, I think their Portieux Vallerysthal but cannot find anything to confirm that I've search the net again and again. My folks had the white one down as a Westmoreland reproduction but when you compare them to my eye they all look as if there from the same mould. All unmarked and 8 cm high.
Would Portieux also have made these in marble malachite?

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks Mike

Title: Re: Dolphin footed or Gurnard footed toothpick holder
Post by: Anne Tique on August 17, 2018, 07:55:31 AM

Hello,

Have a look at the first and very last catalogue extracts in the link and ignore the item in question, model 2136 looks very much like it, although the catalogue examples seem to have more 'body', but this is due to the antique dolphins I guess, but the decor of shells etc corresponds, as far as I can see. The last print at the bottom shows it better, catalogued as a 'moutardier' or mustard pot.


https://www.pressglas-korrespondenz.de/aktuelles/pdf/pk-2014-3w-reith-sars-potieres-dose-delphine.pdf (https://www.pressglas-korrespondenz.de/aktuelles/pdf/pk-2014-3w-reith-sars-potieres-dose-delphine.pdf)

Title: Re: Dolphin footed or Gurnard footed toothpick holder
Post by: thewingedsphinx on August 17, 2018, 08:24:27 AM

Anne tique, thank you very very much for that info, I now need to learn French. Hopefully I shall decipher over the weekend, your link has also identified a similar Malachite cornucopia salt I have.
I did have these  listed on eBay  with my Gurnard Footed basket which you also identified. I shall take them off and read up about them as it’s always nice to include their origin or story.
Thanks again for your time.
Mike

Title: Re: Dolphin footed or Gurnard footed toothpick holder
Post by: Anne Tique on August 17, 2018, 08:26:47 AM

Quote

I now need to learn French

Let me know if I can help, just send me a PM.

Title: Re: Dolphin footed or Gurnard footed toothpick holder
Post by: thewingedsphinx on August 17, 2018, 08:23:20 PM

So for reference here are several Gurnard Footed pieces from France.
Rear left a White Portieux Vallerysthal 3 Footed Lidded Bowl from c1900 ish.
Rear right a Le Blanc c1897 Flint 3 Footed handled basket.
At the front several Sars Poteries 3 Footed spill vases or toothpick holders c1885.

I wonder why Gurnard feet were so popular?
Regards Mike

Title: Re: Dolphin footed or Gurnard footed toothpick holder
Post by: Anne Tique on August 17, 2018, 08:38:11 PM

Personally I would not know because at this time, la Belle Époque, style and trends were completely different, as i'm sure you know. In the Victorian Period everything had to be themed, so maybe it was a bit late in developing and following trends, but it did soon after, but I'm just guessing here.

If you like i can ask on a french forum and if you agree, i'll use the image above to illustrate.

Title: Re: Dolphin footed or Gurnard footed toothpick holder
Post by: thewingedsphinx on August 17, 2018, 08:43:52 PM

Yes, feel free to share the picture, if you would like a better quality one, let me know.

Title: Re: Dolphin footed or Gurnard footed toothpick holder
Post by: Anne Tique on August 17, 2018, 08:47:20 PM

Ok I'll do that, I guess the image should be fine.

Title: Re: Dolphin footed or Gurnard footed toothpick holder
Post by: Anne Tique on August 20, 2018, 08:08:24 AM

I thought I'd leave it for a couple of days to see what people say on the french forum and got some strong opinions and more or less heated debates but anyway, basically there's a mythological signification and a religious one. One of your pieces has gurnards but the other ones represent dolphins.


The Greek-Romans used the dolphin in a lot of representations and stayed more or less realistic in its ressemblance. It's been mentioned that in this period it was considered as a symbol for the sea and free commerce. In the renaissance period though, artists would let their fantasy go a bit OTT, by illustrating 'beasts' with out of proportion, often dog-shaped, heads, an overly large mouth full of teeth and threatening eyes.


You can also find the dolphin illustrated related to wine, and then it is symbolic for the legend of Bacchus, who threatened to change nasty fishermen into dolphins.

In Christianity there are several options. A symbol for resurrection and protection. Christ but also the apostles can be represented by a dolphin as they are both considered to be saviours of people. In numerous catacombes representations of dolphins can be found on a cross, anchor or trident as the image of Christ on the cross had not been established yet. It can also stand for being a good Christian as dolphins are considered to be pure and intelligent, and therefor close to people.


That's about it, if anything else comes up i'll let you know.

Title: Re: Dolphin footed or Gurnard footed toothpick holder
Post by: Anne Tique on August 20, 2018, 06:15:42 PM

If you really want to get into it, there this book that has been suggested on the french forum, if you like.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/School-Dolphins-Charles-Avery/dp/0500238618 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/School-Dolphins-Charles-Avery/dp/0500238618)

Title: Re: Dolphin footed or Gurnard footed toothpick holder
Post by: thewingedsphinx on August 23, 2018, 08:29:30 AM

Anne Tique, thanks very much for spending all that time on this, i shall investigate further.
Kind regards Mike