Topic: date cane with an I in the middle?

[mjr]

The Powell Whitefriars up to 1980 have nothing in common with the Caithness Whitefriars (CW) which were issued from 1981 onwards except for the name and the use of a monk cane and no comparison can really be made in the way they were done. Allan has descrived it far more eloquently thamn I did. Looking in Charlton there are quite a few millefiore CW designs in the early 80s. The one shown above is not in Charlton but the design is of the similar style and the canes are scottish rather than Whitefriars. In fact the design seems to copy Pethshire styles of the late 70s early 80s (see PP34 for example). Personally I don't think they quite got it - but then fortunately the Whitefriars brand was then used mainly for the lampworked botanicals which we all know as being wonderful weights.
Oh - and the other one seen on ebay a year ago. I bought that - and it is the same unfinished state - and the setting is poor but I would not say that the monk cane is that different to other early CW examples. I would still go for a trial design that didnt quite work so was not an official issue

[josordoni]

thanks for all your comments, most informative.  The base certainly looks right, there are two weights, one is concentric, the other closepack, I think they are very definitely Whitefriars, and as such, well worth a bid!

[Frank]

... I bought that - and it is the same unfinished state - and the setting...

Can you post a/some pics so Kevin can do his archaeology, please.

[KevinH]

I think Martin's own "trowel work" on the one in question has given us all we need to know. I could add nothing of value. I agree with the idea of the weight(s) being likely trial pieces, hence the unfinished base.

[KevinH]

As part of my (very slow) work, on behalf of moderator Frank, to identify and mark possible messages for archiving, this one caught my interest again.

Snce the photos of the weight with the doubted signature cane are placed in Tinypic, we may lose them at any time.

Riki ... could you please repost the photos to Anne's "Yobunny Glassgallery" site. Or if you prefer, I can do that for you with copies of the Tinypic ones.

(I have a couple of pre-Caithness Whitefriars, so if I need images for the real thing for archiving with this message, I can use my own.)

[josordoni]

Well I did manage to buy one of the weights I talked about, and I have finally got around to putting some pics together.  Would you call this a carpet ground or a close pack?  This pics are a bit big, so I have given links rather than put the pics on.  The piece is a 5 facet plus top. The first link is the facet that shows the date cane (1974) the second link is a close up of the central bit, and the third the base.

http://www.clarkagency.co.uk/whitefriars%20facet3.jpg
http://www.clarkagency.co.uk/whitefriars%20close%20up.jpg
http://www.clarkagency.co.uk/whitefriars%20base.jpg

thanks for any help

[mjr]

Nothing wrong with this.
Very nice Whitefriars using complex canes.
The signature cane is unusual for two reasons. Firstly, it is white with a blue monk and date. This is less common than the conventional white on blue. Secondly, it seems larger than usual. But then there can be variations in size.
The faceting is the most common 5 & 1

All in all a nice example.

Oh - and carpet ground is when the canes are the same - ie looks like a carpet.

[Frank]

Riki, is it OK for me to transfer your images to our Glass-Gallery so that they do not get lost when the thread ages.

[josordoni]

Thanks Martin, I forgot to respond earlier, hope you excuse my rudeness.

[Simone]

In my personal opinion, the maker of the "dubious" weight is really taking the pee out of the Whitefriars collectors.  :evil:

First of all look at the date - different coloured numbers, and the stars include blue which aren't in the usual run of the mill Whitefriars I've seen and all that on top of the fuzzy friar cane.