Notes on the Glass Galleries

 

Sowerby Glass Colours


Opal and Blanc de Lait

There is some debate as to whether Sowerby white and opalescent glass are Opal or Blanc de Lait. Raymond Slack, in his book, calls the white glass 'Opal' and the opalescent glass 'Blanc de Lait'. I think that this is correct and will go with this.


Malachite

The standard malachite colours are purple, blue and green. Page 3 of the Sowerby Pattern Book VIII 1880 mentions brown malachite, this is what Sowerby's call purple malachite. When purple malachite is photographed it does take on a brown colour. I have listed this malachite as Purple Malachite, the name by which it is now commonly known. Slack also refers to Brown when talking about purple malachite.
Under the Malachite section I have listed one piece of 'brown malachite'. This item is a small, shot glass thimble, with 'Just a Thimbleful' caption. This item has a definite 'brown' colour. I have only ever seen 3 of them, and it is the only item I have seen in this colour.


Marble and Nugget glass

I have listed a few items as 'Marble' glass. This is a mould blown 'marbled' glass, produced by marvering small pieces of (usually) white glass onto the gather before it is blown into the mould. I now believe this is the 'New Marble Glass' referred to in a Pottery Gazette advertisement in 1882.
Another type of cased, mould blown glass is Sowerby Nugget glass. This has an inside colour, then a layer of mica flakes then a layer of either blue or amber translucent glass on the outside. Nugget glass was made in either blue or 'gold', an example of blue Nugget is shown.

 

Please visit my page 'Victorian Pressed Glass - Sowerby Pressed Glass Colours 1875-1885' for more information.

 

Mystery Glass

I have included a 'Mystery Glass' Gallery for unusual and interesting pieces and puzzles.
Any information or comments on these items would be appreciated, please use the Contact form.

 

Gallery Annotations

Under each piece in the galleries is a brief description and the following annotations:
Mk - manufacturers trade mark or 'unmarked'
RegMk Lozenge or RDnumber - marked with registration lozenge or number
H, W, L - Height, Width, Length in mm