Posted 3 years ago
IronLace
(928 items)
If you collect Victorian art glass, chances are you probably have a few of these fancy bowls in your collection. They would have once had silverplate holders or stands but it is fairly rare to find one with its original fittings intact. They are usually referred to as jam or condiment dishes, but could have been used for other purposes. They can be found in a wide variety of colours popular in the era, such as ruby/cranberry glass & vaseline glass, & are usually embellished with rigarees, applied crests, machine threaded decoration, etc.
This one is a particularly fine example. It is made from clear glass with a striking opaque pink & white pulled loop pattern. I am going to go out on a limb & suggest that it may be a version of the Northwood pull - up pattern made by Stevens & Williams.
The bowl measures 7.5 cm tall, 14 cm wide across, & 6.5 cm across the base, which has a neatly polished out pontil mark.
There is a rigaree around the middle (which would have helped to hold the bowl in place in its metal stand), as well as an applied crest around the crimped & pinched top rim - both are made from yellow - green glass that contains uranium & glows brightly under UV light.
Most likely English origin, possibly Stevens & Williams or one of the other major Stourbridge manufacturers of the era. Circa 1880s.
That is a very nice one! re the stands maybe people got sick of polishing them :)
Many thanks, Bernard, & I think your theory has potential! The advent of the 20th century ushered in the end of domestic servants to keep the silver polished, as well as most folks being too busy to be bothered...
I am always amazed by your posts! Beautiful!
This piece is fantastic! One of the best I have seen; the pink and white pop against the pale lime green. Can you imagine having it one your table in the morning for jam? What a crazy setting it would be! The Victorians amaze me sometimes. This is a great addition to your collection, Marin! :)
Thanks so much, vintagelamp!
Thanks also, Michelle, & I loved your comment - I have a picture in my mind of some Victorian folks dressed in their everyday attire of three piece suits & bustled dresses with enormous puff sleeves sitting down to a simple breakfast with this little stunner as part of the table setting, with perhaps a fairy lamp epergne in Burmese glass at the centre of the table... :-)
the spring in a piece of art congrats
Many thanks, kivatinitz!
I love Victorian jam dishes because of their variety of shapes and color-ways. I have an example of this particular and most attractive dish but it also is missing its silver plated stand. However, they lose nothing when put on display!
Many thanks, Russell117!
Yes, a dish like this is always super, regardless of whether it has a stand or not, simply a joy to behold & a miracle that it has endured over the years, too.