Total Mystery Piece! Need Help IDing! Glass? Crystal???

[Dylan]

Here is something I found at a garage Sale...

I cannot for the life of me find out anything on this amazing piece.

It is either Cut-Glass or Crystal (no markings)
Faceted, scalloped, and etched
design includes pears and other fruit.

Is very large and heavy and comes with a lid with a pointed finial.

Any information is GREATLY appreciated!!!

 

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[yaxthri]

Looks like some kind of bohemian crystal chalice... the shape anyway does.
The one sthat are worth something are mostly the hand-cut kind.
Sorry I couldn't find anything better on the net the fast way (googling it that is) but maybe with my new info you can do a new search?

 

[Dylan]

A "Chalice" never crossed my mind. Do they come this large

-Dylan

 

[yaxthri]

I looked at the pictures again and I think it is not cut, looks more like produced in a mold, sorry. The fruit is etched for sure.
Judging by the soda can in the back it is huge, I think this may be a "mass-produced" piece not a rarity I'm afraid, but I'm not an expert and if you like it it's " treasure" for you anyway and a nice display item for what it's worth.

 

[Red James Cash]

Look for a mold mark, cut glass usually isnt formed in a mold. Cut glass also would have sharper edges than depression pressed glass. Most likely you have a nice piece of depression era pressed glass.

 

[Breezie]

You have a glass fruit compote with lid. I can't tell from the pics if it is pressed glass or lead crystal. All crystal is glass, but not all glass is crystal. To tell the difference: Take the lid off, and thump the edge of the compote with your fingernail. Listen for a clear ring tone, and watch for the vibrations. Do the same thing with a regular drinking glass and compare the sounds. Regular glass with give a dull sound with no vibrations, whereas lead crystal will have a clear tone with vibrations.
You can also hold the compote up to bright sunlight. Lead crystal will reflect a rainbow of colors. Lead crystal is also heavier in weight.

WELCOME to the forum! Nice find, Breezie

 

[Unicorn]

I think this could be a punchbowl. Is there a piece cut out at the side of the bowl where a glass ladel would rest.

 

[Dylan]

Breezie:

While I don't know what a "compote" is but I think you may have hit it. I pinged the bowl and the lid and they resonate beautifully. It is also VERY heavy and does produce the prizm-like effect in its facets as you described.

I looked at it very closely and there is no discernible seam or mold mark to it. What does that mean? Pressed glass? Molded Crystal

The finial is very interesting, is it possible to date it by the style of the finial? Is this a pattern that is well known or identifiable? I can't tell if it is a Pear or an Avocado. Also it looks like it has possibly peaches and maybe strawberries

While I could never sell this incredible find, I would be curious to have a value on it for insurance purposes.

Unicorn:

Nothing that looks like a place where a ladle might set but the "jagged" edges (scalloped) remind me of where one might hang punch cups.

I appreciate ALL of you for your warm welcome and great information!!!

-Dylan

 

[Red James Cash]

Here you go Dylan

Pressed glass (also referred to as pattern glass)[1] is a form of glass made using a plunger to press molten glass into a mold. It was first patented by American inventor John P. Bakewell in 1825 to make knobs for furniture.

The technique was developed in the United States from the 1820s and in Europe, particularly France, Bohemia, and Sweden from the 1830s. By the mid-19th century most inexpensive mass-produced glassware was pressed (1850–1910).[1] One type of pressed glass is carnival glass. Painted pressed glass produced in the early 20th century is often called goofus glass. The method is also used to make beads.


If there no mold seam then yours isnt pressed glass. How are the edges, are they crisp and sharp instead of sort of rounded off(like if you sand the corners of a piece of wood). Its possible you could have a nice piece of cut glass.

 

[Dylan]

Wow! That is cool, Thanks Red!

The edges seem very crisp and well made. The more I learn about this piece the more fascinated I am about this area of collecting.

How do they get the etching done on a piece like this? the same time as they cut the design

I'd still like to get an idea of possible date, make, and value if anyone can point us there.

Many, many thanks!!!

-Dylan

 

[Red James Cash]

Dylan

If i remember correctly a small metal wheel is used with diamond dust to cut the glass. Its been a while since ive seen it. Think i saw it on a show on TV. If its cut glass then the whole design is cut glass. Some of that stuff is pretty expensive.Especially if its old. I'm far from being an expert on it so i dont really have a clue to what its worth.

This might help

# Check for seams. Glass from a mold often has seams, which show as lines in the finished product. The number of lines depends upon the shape of the finished article & construction of the mould. Depending upon the age of the mold (they wear with use) the pattern may be more or less sharp. In a faceted drop such as a 'crystal', the seam will run all the way around the edge like a ring for poured glass. Although there is nothing to stop pressed glass being cut subsequently the issue is usually: is this design cut or molded?
#
2
Inspect the interior. In poured or pressed glass, the interior of the glass might have have slight dimples that mirror the exterior.
#
3
Examine the design. Hold the glass so that it reflects the light & look, particularly on facets, for fine striations from the tools used on cut glass. These are more obvious on older glass, where polishing was undertaken by hand. However, modern cut glass is chemically smoothed to remove all traces of cutting. This can leave as smooth a finish as good pressed glass. Also, on older cut glass there are often variations in the shape & spacing of the pattern. Not so in pressed glass, where the mould was an expensive item, usually made by craftsmen who perfected the design before it was used.
#
4
If you have a pocket UV light, shine it on the glass. If the tint you see is bluish purple, then the glass is lead glass & more likely to be cut. If it is dull green, then it is soda glass, the cheaper type of glass, & more likely to be moulded. Whether a glass design is cut or pressed is not always easy to tell!

1.
How to Tell if Glass is Cut
* 1

Do the weight test. Cut glass, leaded crystal, is dense. Pick up the glass piece. It should seem extremely heavy. Lift other non-cut glass pieces of the same size for a comparison.
* 2

Do the "ping test" on the glass. Leaded crystal glass is used in cutting due to the softening properties of lead oxide.(Lead oxide allows the glass to be cut without breaking.) Place the glass on a flat surface. With the thumb and forefinger, lightly flick the finger on the glass. If the glass is leaded crystal, a clear ringing sound will be heard. If a dull "thunk" is heard, the glass is not leaded crystal. Move on to the next step, if ringing is heard.
* 3

Hold the piece to the light. Small rainbows should reflect in the sunlight. The light should bounce light from cut to cut.
* 4

Look closely at the cuts. Each cut should have a crisp, clear edge. Pressed or molded glass will have a slightly rounded edge.
* 5

Check for a signature on the bottom of the piece. Cut glass is not always signed, but many manufacturers marked their pieces. American cut glass companies include Libbey, Jewel, Sinclaire, Hoare, Meriden, Hawkes, Tuthill and Dorflinger. Use the link below or purchase a cut glass history book to see the manufacturer's marks that were put on cut glass pieces. Cut glass is also made by design. Take a photo of the piece and compare the design to other identified cut patterns.


Read more: How to Tell if Glass is Cut | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4884279_tell-glass-cut.html#ixzz1in5BK200

 

[Red James Cash]

This site might help you out too.

http://www.brilliantglass.com/identifying_cut_glass/forgeries_Swan.html

 

[Monty]

If I was guessing, which of course I am, I would say it's a candy bowl? Monty

 

[Broken knee]

If I was guessing, which of course I am, I would say it's a candy bowl? Monty

Thanks Monty, I followed this to your post now I want skittles!!
BK

 

[Breezie]

Breezie:

While I don't know what a "compote" is but I think you may have hit it. I pinged the bowl and the lid and they resonate beautifully. It is also VERY heavy and does produce the prizm-like effect in its facets as you described.

I looked at it very closely and there is no discernible seam or mold mark to it. What does that mean? Pressed glass? Molded Crystal

The finial is very interesting, is it possible to date it by the style of the finial? Is this a pattern that is well known or identifiable? I can't tell if it is a Pear or an Avocado. Also it looks like it has possibly peaches and maybe strawberries

While I could never sell this incredible find, I would be curious to have a value on it for insurance purposes.

-Dylan

Dylan,
There are literally 100's of different glass patterns, but your compote reminds me of a piece of cut glass during the American Brilliant era. Your fruits looks to be pears and plums. If you Google American Brilliant cut glass compotes, you'll see what I mean. It appears to be a really nice piece. Breezie

 

[Cate]

hi Dylan,
did you discover any info regarding this crystal?

 

[unclemac]

read what breezie has to say about this and disregard all the rest....she is spot on with stuff like this. since it "rings" it is not pressed glass, fruit compote...check....lead crystal...check....cut glass...check....not seam lines...check.... nice piece, but no longer "useful" thus many people would dump it cheap as it takes up "space"...my father was like that....his motto was "there is beauty in function".

 

[Cate]

It's just that I have a bowl with very similar pattern and came across this post after searching high and low to identify it.
added some pics.

 

[unclemac]

boy it sure is similar....but it might also be a case of "technique" and taste of the time. Artists...technicians really...learn how to reproduce a theme or style and can do it almost in their sleep.

 

[BosnMate]

As a know nothing about glass guy, I just have two bits to add. My mother had an item very much like yours, that had been in the family for ever it seemed like.
She decided to get it checked out by an expert to see just what information she might get. The expert lady said that it was a premium item. I know we had a clock
that was acquired by the family in the 1870's for purchasing a certain amount of cow feed. Well, this item was the same deal, you buy so much flour or what
ever, and you get the plate etc. The expert lady said that some of our best antiques started out that way. Not saying that's what yours is, just that it's an angle
to explore if you are interested.