Topic: Antique Crackle and opalescent blown glass slipper or shoe. Cinderella slippers?

[thewingedsphinx]

Hi, in the book “Shoes of glass 2”  it shows some shoes from the same kind of range as these but they are not attributed to any maker. I have two pairs one in crackle glass with shoe horns and another opalescent with laces. The ones in the book vary in the accessories, the book also dates them around English 1890. I think the book is on the right track but wonder if anyone can help in identifying them. Can you banes some makers of crackle glass and opalescent makers? I think possibly Walsh Walsh or Webb but welcome any opinions.
Before you ask, no they don’t fit me either.

[thewingedsphinx]

I meant to say can you name some makers of crackle glass from around 1899-1910 ish.
Dimensions 13x5 cm
Thanks Mike

[NevB]

My first thoughts were that, from the colour and style, the opalescent ones were French and possibly earlier. The crackle glass ones coul be by one of several makers, like Walsh, or could be French too. 

[flying free]

A bit of a diversion but are the top pair ashtrays?

Lovely pieces btw.

[thewingedsphinx]

I see what you mean as your fag could sit in the shoe horn. The shoe horn is fixed so your ash would drop off the side. So I’m not sure about an ash tray. Would you buy ashtrays in pairs? I think they maybe English salt dips as you would by a pair of salts ? Just guessing.. thanks Mike

[flying free]

They could be salts I guess but that sideways metal bit would get in the way of serving the salt with a spoon and any spoon might be unstable on it.  So perhaps a bit of an awkward design.

It might or might not be an ashtray and it probably only reminded me of that because of the metal bit which is shaped like old ashtrays used to have on them if you know what I mean?  As you say though, that would be impractical for resting a cig on (and dangerous).

[thewingedsphinx]

In the “shoes of glass” book they have several different decorative designs of laces in gold etc, I’ve not seen the crackle glass ones with shoe horns before. It would also be awkward to rest a salt spoon on..

[flying free]

Nope, I really do think the top pair are ashtrays.  Sorry. (responding to my own post one above and having thought about it).
As you say after my post, an awkward design for ashtrays and also salts but I definitely do think ashtrays.

The bottom pair are 'ballerina slippers' or 'ballet flats'. I don't think they're English, the metalwork design of the ribbon looks as though it might be French. From the yellow opalescent glass I would think they were early 1800s from a maker like Le Creusot or Bercy however I'm not sure about the design of the shoe actually being from that era.  A bit of a conundrum.

The top pair might be from perhaps Harrach Neuwelt maybe? Or maybe even American? They look like 'Mary Jane' shoes.  The style/design of the shoes makes me think 1930s but not the crackle glass which looks 1800s. Oh actually it's just occurred to me, the top crackle pair remind me of Victorian clogs.  That's what I think they are based on.
https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8563230/pair-of-childrens-clogs-pair-of-childrens-clogs

So perhaps the top crackle pair are English/Scottish maker? (see cobalt blue pair on the left 4th down in this link.  I had red ones like these as a child which is what suddenly occurred to me)
https://www.clogs.co.uk/

https://www.dgwgo.com/dg-arts-news/lasat-clog-makers-work-showcased-spring-fling-2014/#:~:text=Right%20up%20until%20the%201950s,to%20export%20them%20to%20Lancashire.

[flying free]

and I think you haven't seen the top ones before because the metal work is probably dropped off/come loose and missing.  I have definitely seen a pair in that shape with the ridge/raised edge around the top where the metal work rim and holder would have sat but missing that metalwork. There was an opalescent yellow pair on ebay a while ago without that metal attachment but in the shape of the top crackle pair .

[thewingedsphinx]

Both pairs are the same shape. Only the decorative metalwork varies.