Topic: Sweetmeat glass

[Antwerp1954]

Can anyone put a dat on this sweetmeat glass.

Lead glass (blue luminescence under UV)
Good wear to foot and bowl rim
8 sided pedestal stem
Domed and folded foot with pontil mark
Metal is quite "white" - indicates later than earlier?
Height 16cm
Bowl diameter  9.2 cm
Bowl diameter 8.2

Comparing it with tazzas, thoughts are 1790-1810. Over to you.

[oldglassman]

Hi ,
           Pedestal stem sweetmeats are thought to have been discontinued around the 1760s , yes tazza's continued with the same stem formations into the 19th c but not sweetmeats,my first reaction to your photo and description of the metal is that it is a reproduction,yep everything has been copied at some time or other , one of the most popular times for reproductions which as far as i can tell from the photo look like yours is around mid 20th cent ,Czechoslovakia was a large producer of reproduction items ,glasses tazzas tankards,anything,museums Corning for example also began to produce glasses in the 17th and 18th c style for there shop and wider distribution I think , anyway better photos if possible would help to be more certain , its certainly trying to look around 1745/50.

Sorry it's the wand of doom again but I can only comment on what I see .

cheers ,
             Peter.

[Antwerp1954]

Hi Peter

As soon as I unpacked it I knew it was not right. The glass too clear, the bowl too thick, the quality of the pedestal moulding disappointing and the wear too even and homogeneous. Hence your response just confirmed myworries. The good news is that I did not pay the earth and my instincts are improving once I get to handle the item.

The last one you reckoned was not an 18th century Façon de Venise glass has had a satisfactory outcome. The auction house has agreed it's not right and is going to give me a full refund AND I get to keep the glass.

Many thanks again.

Regards

Stuart

[Paul S.]

hello Stuart  -  must be a relief that you didn't pay too much  -  we all make mistakes, the trick is to lessen their occurence with the passing of time.

Don't know what books you have, but............ in view of your period of interest, then there are a few that might help to get the eyes going in a better direction, and said volumes have texts that will also assist.

Peter has recently suggested some of the catalogues/exhibition guides issued over the past few years by Delomosne & Son .....   http://www.delomosne.co.uk/page33/page33.html  ......        I now have a few, and can say these look to be very useful.              They cover C21 sales of some of the most important collections of drinking glasses/dessert glass/tumblers etc., and what is important is that all contain high quality illustrations.
Other volumes of use are Bickerton on drinking glasses in general,  Phelps Warren for Irish, G. Bernard Hughes on table glass, and Geoffrey Wills' volume on a variety of C18 and C19 material.

Appreciate these are no substitute for handling the real thing, but all are an enjoyable read, and lots can be learned.

[Antwerp1954]

Hi Paul

I've already invested in Bickerton, Barrington Haynes, Bernard Hughes, Ash and the essay on faceted glasses from Delmosne inter alia.

I bought a German glass a few months ago and now I'm hooked on them (Neil - you're the guilty party!). Recently bought 4 in a German auction. But finding any books on German/Bohemian 18th century glass is proving difficult. Any ideas?

Tyanks

Stuart

[neil53]

Hi Stuart,

Peter (oldglassman) recommended the book "Glass in the Rijksmuseum Volume 1" to me as reference material for continental 18th century glass but they are as rare as hens' teeth and I can't find a copy anywhere.  Volume 2 just covers engraved glasses but is a great book in its own right.  You could also try various web sites such as http://www.glaswolf.de/ which I think I recommended to you before and, of course, the catalogue entries for glass in the auction house of Dr. Fischer.

Good luck,
Neil

[oldglassman]

Hi ,
           The 4 catalogues that made up the "Krug Collection " sold by Sothebys in 1981/2/3 are well worth having , they pop on eBay now and again.

cheers ,
             Peter.

ps  good news on the F De V , my invoice is on its way LOL.

[Antwerp1954]

Peter

I certainly owe you a drink if we ever meet.

Stuart

[Antwerp1954]

Auction house immediately agreed to my returning the glass for a refund.