Posted 22 days ago
IronLace
(959 items)
Here is a super find from a trip to my old favourite flea market yesterday!
I'm going to count this as a birthday present (today was the day) even though I found it the day before.
It meant a lot for me to find this quirky piece of Victoriana at the markets I used to visit virtually every weekend from 1996 - 2018.
This is a rather rare item, a so called "frigger" or novelty from around the 1860s or so. I have never seen one for sale before.
The item is modeled on an old fashioned bellows, an instrument used to blow air on a fire.
It is made from cased glass, clear over a pink & white pulled loop decor. Yes, this is typically referred to as "Nailsea", especially with regard to this kind of item, but I am uncertain of the veracity of such an attribution. Novelty items like this were likely made by numerous manufacturers throughout England in the 19th century. It is what one would term a "folk art" piece.
It measures 26.5 cm tall, & 12.5 cm across the widest point. There is clear applied decoration including a prunt & rigarees. Note that the two projections that appear to be "feet" do not enable the item to stand up, these are intended to depict the handles of the bellows.
So this has to be either laid on its side or propped up for display.
Condition is overall very good considering the age of around 160 years, with only a minor area of loss to one of the side rigarees.
English origin, circa 1860s.
Beautiful!! And a Very Happy Birthday to you my friend!!! I just celebrated one myself on 03/31.
Many thanks, Scott! Happy Birthday to you for last Monday! I've had a lovely day enjoying the beautiful autumn weather & now enjoying a very good wine!
I forget that it’s Autumn there. Spring has sprung here in Kentucky with a lot of metamorphosis taking place with flowers and trees. But, it’s been a wet weekend with 12” of rain here!! I’m
Interesting find. Congrats on that and your birthday!
Nice find, Happy Birthday. Enjoy your wine.
Thanks also, kwqd!
Much appreciated,kev123!