Topic: Dwarf ale glass identification

[ADJC1]

Hi all - many thanks for your help in advance.

Early in my collecting (dwarf ale glasses) I bought a glass on ebay as a reference piece for early 20th century ale glasses. It was bought with the description of "Rare Stevens and Williams manufactured in the 1920s. Designed by Gordon Russell as part of his Lygon range".

The seller wasn't 100% sure about the glass, but he was certain it wasn't 18th century. Afterwards I've found images of the Lygon range by Stevens and Williams and my glass doesn't seem to match up. In addition, I've seen similar glasses for sale since with an earlier date attributed to them (mid to late 18th century).

This I've attached a photo of the glass. It is clearly lighter in colour than 18th century ale glasses and the wrythening is noticeably tight (not seen this in reference books or on the websites of reputable dealers) around the top of the bowl.

Additional points to note are that the bead of glass inside is far more pronounced and exaggerated when compared to my other glasses.
In addition, the foot is conical, oddly misshapen and with a pontil mark. Some wear is on the underside of the foot.

Any help identifying it would be appreciated as I'm curious for my future collecting. My own feeling is that it is a reproduction (can't be certain of the date).

Cheers!

Adam

[ADJC1]

more photos attached

[Ekimp]

Hi and welcome. I’ve not seen the Lygon glasses before, but assuming this link is correct, then I agree that your glass isn’t one: https://www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk/PrintLot?id=299114

At the end of this topic, Paul s. says there’s a small book on dwarf ales: http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,69204.msg385567.html#msg385567 might be worth finding a copy if you don’t have it already.

[ADJC1]

Many thanks for the reply.

I've also seen this: https://www.artnet.com/artists/gordon-russell/suite-of-lygon-wrythen-glassware-P19xbXvxpeRa8awB9a7isw2

As you said, clearly not part of this range.

I have the book suggested in that thread and alas nothing like that glass in it.

[Ekimp]

No help there then

How about the size of the foot, the diameter of the foot is supposed to be larger than that of the rim on 18th c glasses isn’t it?

I did what you did and bought a more modern glass for comparison of colour but it had a gadget mark - well a shear mark so probably used with a gadget - so I was sure of the age.

[Ivo]

fwiw i have three of these and they definitely have a manganese blush, meaning they predate the 1880s and have had a lot of sun. Foot is hand finished, so not in a clapper, pontil sheared off and unfinished.

[ADJC1]

Interesting! They do have a pale green glow under UV lighting (365 nm). Do you happen to have any pictures of yours? I'd be curious to see them. See is your thinking that it (they) are Victorian reproductions or something along those lines?