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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: JUGCC on July 04, 2021, 11:23:25 AM

Title: Air-twist goblet around 1880 in England (from Japan)
Post by: JUGCC on July 04, 2021, 11:23:25 AM

This goblet was estimated as a product of SGW (Shinagawa Glass Works in Japan) around 1881, maybe by a British glass expert named James Speed.
It has 12cm height, 6cm diameter, 3.5g/cc density, that is about 50% lead crystal glass.
It is so-called "Air-twist" glass with 4 facets stem, showing a series of air bubbles, and also shows a red-colored ribbon shaped inclusive.
One more unique feature is that it has 6 facets as cutting glass in the middle of the goblet.
Corning Museum of Glass shows a video on "air twist" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq5huA4T8aU.

This was manufactured with very high technique, and it was impossible by Japanese glass craftsmen before James Speed arrived at SGW.
My hypothesis is that British glass experts could acquire the above technique at that time.

So, my question is this type of goblet was manufactured in England (midland or Scotland) in 1880 or before.
Please find similar items (either photo or illustration).
 
This goblet is explained by Yasumasa Oka, as "Cut Glass Goblet with Air Twist and Red Color Twist Stem" in Bijutu Forum 21, vol.41, 2020 (in Japanese).

Ritsuo Yoshioka, 2021-07-05

Title: Re: Air-twist goblet around 1880 in England (from Japan)
Post by: Lustrousstone on July 04, 2021, 07:39:29 PM

Air-twist glasses were being made in Newcastle, England, in the middle of the 18th century, according to "English Glass" by Sydney Compton. Magiver Perceval in "The Glass Collector; A Guide to Old English Glass" says they were being made from the early 18th century becoming more complicated and including opaque twists towards the end of the century. E. Barrington Hayes has similar thoughts in "Glass"

Title: Re: Air-twist goblet around 1880 in England (from Japan)
Post by: JUGCC on July 04, 2021, 11:55:21 PM

Thank you for the history record in the books.
When, I searched by Google as "air twist goblet antique", I could see many wine glasses with air-twist stem.
The above SGW goblet has 3 unique features.
1) Air twist at its stem.
2) Red-colored ribbon-shaped inclusive.
3) Cutting facets at the middle (thick glass).

Goblets with cutting facet were common in 19 century.
But, I could not find similar items with the above 3 features in the Internet.

Ritsuo Yoshioka, 2021-07-05