Topic: Unusual Primrose Pearline style Victorian Vaseline paperweight piano insulator

[thewingedsphinx]

I Would be grateful for any help identifying this 800 gram 10x5 cm lump of glass, described as an “end of day” paperweight but I think it resembles a Piano insulator of sorts although all my insulators are moulded this does not appear to be moulded. It has a shallow cup with wear hence why I think it could be an unusual insulator.  It reminds me of Davidson's and Greener primrose Pearline colours with white opalescent edge? I welcome your opinions cheers Mike

[Lustrousstone]

Interesting. I don't think it's a piano insulator, as it doesn't have anyway to spread the weight. The weight would be on the individual ribs

[thewingedsphinx]

I know what you mean but there is wear on all the feet which covers a wide area. Most insulators roughly resemble a volcano shape with a wider load bearing base rim than the top cup that the castor sits in. but not all.

[NevB]

Very unusual, at first I thought paperweight but now think more likely insulator. Davidson Pearline is well documented so I don't think it's by them but it could be Greener or possibly even American. One sold on Ebay recently with no attribution.

[Lustrousstone]

I'm not sure wear is indicative of it being an insulator. I have master salts of a similar size with very worn feet, though this is probably too shallow for a salt

[thewingedsphinx]

Left and right are a couple more insulators which are unusual as their base rim is not wider than the top rim. Left hand one is Sowerby 1885.

[Lustrousstone]

But they do have weight-spreading base rims rather than feet

[thewingedsphinx]

Here are two designs with no flat rim but bobbly feet instead. Left is Rd 119975 and right likely to be Rd 273178. Although they are press moulded.

[thewingedsphinx]

Here is a link to some similar pieces with the same base 8 feet or whatever you may call them? Look similarly chunky like my yellow one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265705957210?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=TWSDuRSoTBS&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=h76BUnvMS6e&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Thanks Mike