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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Tigerchips on February 19, 2007, 10:31:56 PM

Title: Heavy cut glass vase, old
Post by: Tigerchips on February 19, 2007, 10:31:56 PM

Okay, so not my vase, it belongs to a charity and is probably not worth much with the damage. But curiousity got the better of me again.  ;D

Grubby picture alert!
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10011/Picture_48367.jpg

Close-ups
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10011/Picture_48368.jpg
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10011/Picture_48369.jpg
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10011/Picture_48370.jpg

It has a flat base and the colour of the glass makes me think that it's very old.

I think it once had a metal ring attached to the rim. Huh, look at all that cut decoration!  :o

Any clues on origin and manufacturer please?

Thanks, Tony.

Title: Re: Heavy cut glass vase, old
Post by: Piper on February 19, 2007, 11:40:46 PM

Hi Tony...
the vase that you listed looks like American pattern or pressed glass to me. The pattern doesn't look deep or sharp enough to be cut glass. Still, it's an attractive vase and has an interseting shape. shame it's damaged.

-Piper.

Title: Re: Heavy cut glass vase, old
Post by: Bernard C on February 20, 2007, 04:06:33 AM

TC — Your vase has reverse points in several places.   Ask yourself the question "How can a cutting wheel cut a reverse point?"   It can't, of course.

So it's not cut glass, nor, being precise, imitation cut, as the pattern could never have been cut.   Perhaps "in the style of cut glass" would be more accurate.

So, was it pressed and re-shaped, or mould-blown.   If it was mould-blown you would expect the inside to slightly mirror the deeper parts of the pattern on the outside.    If pressed you would expect a perfectly circular profile on the inside, at least inside the bottom bulbous part.

Is the inside of the base perfectly flat and level?   If so, that's usually evidence of pressed glass.

Inside corners are always pressed glass.

Don't forget that all combinations are possible, so those long slice cuts around the centre could have been cut, with the rest of the pattern pressed or mould-blown.    On glass this old look for faint striations on the surface to determine if it was cut.

I hope that's not too confusing.

Bernard C.  8)

Title: Re: Heavy cut glass vase, old
Post by: Mosquito on February 20, 2007, 10:25:58 AM

Press moulding is unlikely given the shape. At least some of the decoration appears cut. Whilst there initially appears to be reverse points on this vase, looking at the direction of light and play on the surfaces suggests that this may be deceptive, the problem arises due to the difficulty of intepreting a two dimensional image when given limited perceptual cues.

As to who made it, I can't offer a great deal more. The vase looks to be early 20th century. I have had a few small cut or part cut vases of a similar type, all were found in charity shops for very little money.

Title: Re: Heavy cut glass vase, old
Post by: Tigerchips on February 20, 2007, 10:46:57 AM

I was sure that it was cut but I wasn't really sure about some parts. :o.

This needs further inspection, I'll borrow the vase and take better photo's.

Title: Re: Heavy cut glass vase, old
Post by: Tigerchips on February 21, 2007, 07:47:34 PM

A few more pictures...
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10011/Picture_48401.jpg
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10011/Picture_48402.jpg
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10011/Picture_48375.jpg
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10011/Picture_48384.jpg
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10011/Picture_48385.jpg
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10011/Picture_48390.jpg
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10011/Picture_48391.jpg

The inside of the base is not flat, it curves upwards.

The long slice cuts (in the middle) are flat on the vertical edges, does that mean they are polished?

The long thick cuts near the bottom of the vase have, er, well, they are not rounded, they are sort of flat in places, does that mean they are polished rather than cut?

The glass pattern can be felt on the inside so I guess it must be mould blown. I can also see faint striations everywhere.

Title: Re: Heavy cut glass vase, old
Post by: Bernard C on February 21, 2007, 11:58:06 PM

TC — The striations on picture 6 are typical of cut and hand-polished work.  The fingerprints on the last picture don't prove anything!

Looks cut to me now.

Bernard C.  8)

Title: Re: Heavy cut glass vase, old
Post by: Tigerchips on February 22, 2007, 06:21:30 PM

Thanks Bernard. I presume the moulding was used to ease the amount of deep cutting then?

Those aren't fingerprints, those are lip marks.  :o ;D