thanks for the extra pictures Kelli. I have taken the liberty of adding two of my own, showing different sized lidded sweetmeats, really to illustrate the difference in colour between something that is well over 200 years old, and a piece this is perhaps only half that age, or younger.
The piece on the right is the real thing - typical English Regency period of about 1800, and having a very definite soft lead coloured hue. The other smaller example is much whiter and brighter, and the sort of colour that you would not expect to see until much later in the C19. In fact I think this one dates to somewhere in the early C20, possibly.
As far as the star cut goes, I understand that earlier styles showed wider/broader arms, and in fact each mitre was formed by two separate cuts - thus giving, often, an unequal symmetry to the points. This can be seem clearly in the second of my pictures, where the points in the top of the picture show clearly the lop-sided shapes. Stars cuts that are 'too good to be true' and with finer more narrow arms are usually much later. In the second picture you will also see bubbles and stones in the foot.
Contrary to what you might think, genuine old pieces often have moulded pedestal type feet (sometimes with a hollow underside) - almost slightly crude in looks - paradoxically supporting a beautifully cut urn shaped body.
Please understand that I'm the least expert on this sort of glass, but my conclusion regarding your example would be..........
the colour is bright and very white - no stones or ash - quite finely cut star pattern.............suggesting a more modern piece from somewhere in the late C19 or C20.
For what it's worth my opinion is that this is either British or Continent of Europe - but not possibly Irish.
Your use of the word 'flint' as terminology for lead glass will probably confuse most people this side of the pond
Correctly, in Europe, 'flint' was used historically to describe clear glass which, instead of having sand as its main constituent, used intstead crushed flint stones. If you have access to Newman's dictionary you can read a very good descripiton of why the expression 'flint glass' is a misnomer for C19 and C20 lead glass - too long for me to include here.
Historically, I think, flint stones provided a cleaner form of silica than using available sand, and saved importing pebbles from the Italians - although presumably since it is all silica then the melt temperatue would be the same (just depends on the type of flux).
It is more correct to now describe the pieces of glass which we have been discussing as simply lead crystal.
However, Kelli, your piece is very attractive and very worth keeping, and I just wish there were more folk on the GMB who might perhaps add something to your request
Topic: Anglo Irish Glass I thought, but could be American? (Read 2331 times)
