Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Mick the fish on January 02, 2022, 04:43:28 PM
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Hi can anyone help to identify this footed hobnail cut bowl? Its 6.5 inches high, diameter at top 9 inches, at foot 5 inches. It weighs just under 1.5kg. There is quite a bit of wear on the underside of the foot.
Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.
Mick
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The cut bears similarities with a Harbridge confiture I have.
Mine is a taller and narrower beast, with a solid, long stem. There is only one cut line above the hatching, while you have two, the rim of mine has v-shaped notches cut into it rather than the narrower decor you have on yours.
Mine has the 32 cuts on the base.
It's the diamond shapes in the hatching I most admire about my thing. They are all graduated in size to fit around the bowl, the detail of the work is astounding.
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always disappointing that a skilled cutter having spent time on such a piece, we're then left without any indication of back stamp showing maker/origin - but then the world of cut glass is awash with such pieces, unfortunately, but this one looks good. Hopefully, it's lead glass and rings well when flicked.
In view of the appearance of the cutting, I'd suggest this one is relief diamonds only, and not hobnail pattern. Here there are series of cut lines that are bisected by another series cut at 90 degrees - this produces square enclosures between the cut lines, though in view of the mitred angle of cut of the wheel what we actually see are rows of pointy diamonds.
A hobnail is usually seen as an eight sided cut pattern - this is created by the already mentioned cut lines bisecting at 90 degrees, then further lines cut at lesser angles, to created the eight sided 'hobnail' - or what collectors on the other side of the pond call 'cane'
Not easy to explain in words alone - have a look at cane platting on a chair and you'll get a better idea, or try the internet for images of hobnail cutting on glass.
The shape of the foot here, is less than common too - an eight sided (octagonal) shape, which coincidentally, would be the outline of the hobnail cut. Back stamps can become obscured and less easy to see if wear is heavy - am sure you've looked carefully, but sometimes we can miss a mark.
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Paul thanks for you very informative description re raised diamonds and hob nail cutting.
I have again searched the bowl for any signature or mark, no signs of any. It does ring like a bell when flicked.
always disappointing that a skilled cutter having spent time on such a piece, we're then left without any indication of back stamp showing maker/origin - but then the world of cut glass is awash with such pieces, unfortunately, but this one looks good. Hopefully, it's lead glass and rings well when flicked.
In view of the appearance of the cutting, I'd suggest this one is relief diamonds only, and not hobnail pattern. Here there are series of cut lines that are bisected by another series cut at 90 degrees - this produces square enclosures between the cut lines, though in view of the mitred angle of cut of the wheel what we actually see are rows of pointy diamonds.
A hobnail is usually seen as an eight sided cut pattern - this is created by the already mentioned cut lines bisecting at 90 degrees, then further lines cut at lesser angles, to created the eight sided 'hobnail' - or what collectors on the other side of the pond call 'cane'
Not easy to explain in words alone - have a look at cane platting on a chair and you'll get a better idea, or try the internet for images of hobnail cutting on glass.
The shape of the foot here, is less than common too - an eight sided (octagonal) shape, which coincidentally, would be the outline of the hobnail cut. Back stamps can become obscured and less easy to see if wear is heavy - am sure you've looked carefully, but sometimes we can miss a mark.
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The cut bears similarities with a Harbridge confiture I have.
Mine is a taller and narrower beast, with a solid, long stem. There is only one cut line above the hatching, while you have two, the rim of mine has v-shaped notches cut into it rather than the narrower decor you have on yours.
Mine has the 32 cuts on the base.
It's the diamond shapes in the hatching I most admire about my thing. They are all graduated in size to fit around the bowl, the detail of the work is astounding.
Thanks for your info and photo. Mine looks very similar to yours so would seem that Harbridge is quite likely. Again thank for you help it's much appreciated
Mick
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coming back to the octagonal foot ............... since this isn't a shape that the glass worker can create whilst the glass is plastic, we assume this was formed cold. In view of this there is always some sense of suspicion that perhaps the item suffered damage resulting in a need to reduce the size of the foot and in the process it was decided to change the shape - of course I'm speculating, and the foot shape here may well have been deliberate from the start of its life - a point worth considering but unverifiable. Smaller glass designs - cruets, sticks, sweetmeats and sifters etc., are often found with non-circular feet, but large pieces almost always are.
This is an attractive and useful piece - a good find.
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The foot when shaped like that, tends to be of very thick glass, while round feet are of normal thickness.
This foot is thick.
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that might suggest that this one has in fact been cut back, thus removing the thinner glass at the perimeter and leaving the appearance of thicker glass from nearer the stem. Well, of course Paul, it obviously has been cut back - the trick is to know if it started life like this, or had a life-changing op part way through. ;)
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I have seen a lot of cornered feet - and they are normally about 5 mm thick.
I have never seen a round foot thick enough to be cut into a shape.
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The foot is 1 cm thick.
Mick
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;D
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is the cut stem of this bowl and the merese, usual for something 20th century?
I was just wondering if this was a 19th century piece, specifically c.1850 ish. (And, she whispers, could it also be from Bohemia or is that out of the question?)
m
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no, it's probably not 'usual' - the basic design shape goes back a very long way, though it's possible the pattern has been viewed for some time as 'old fashioned' - now, people would probably buy either a straightforward bowl or a flatish shaped cake stand. IMHO this has nothing to do with the C19 or Bohemia (famous last words), and is more likely to be from the middle third of the C20.
The design seems to fall between two stools, and ends up being more decorative than practical - it doesn't quite make it to qualify as a traditional tazza, and fails in capacity to be a decent usable bowl on stem.
In the second half of the C19, Sowerby were keen on this outline shape and made many designs - though in pressed glass only - some with detachable stems/plinths, thus making the item versatile, though as we've said, traditionally the foot would have been round.
That's not to say this one is unusable - would make an attractive centre piece for the dining table if loaded with grapes or glace fruits.
cue for song ................ altogether now "Whispers in the morning of lovers sleeping tight ............... ;D
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I've just realised what that facet cut stem reminded me of ... at least I think I have.
When I was researching a mid 19th overlay cut to clear goblet I came across a Bakewell Pears goblet (I think - it was Bakewell something and the post on Frosted glass decanter has just reminded me of it), and if I recall correctly they did a goblet with a stem facet cut like this or very similar.
Could it be American or is it not the kind of thing they would have done?
Edited to add:
Ah, maybe not - this one I've found the shape of the stem is the other way up and not the same :-[
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/4115
m