I've mentioned my decanter collection from time to time but I don't think I've ever taken the time to actually show you guys. As we are preparing for holiday visitors I set up my decanters on the buffet and decided to share some details with you guys.
So here they are, most of them anyway, all lined up on the buffet.
Most, but not all, of them are heavy antique lead crystal. Some are marked and some not, If you deal in antiques marks are important because they can tell you who made a piece and often when, sometimes down to the very day, giving you an insight into the history of a piece. This can add a lot of value to a piece. Marks on glass are usually acid etched in an inconspicuous location and can often be difficult to see even when you are looking directly at it.
From left to right there is a simple square soda glass decanter, it's actually one of the few quality soda glass decanters I have found over the years. I didn't take a close up of this one because I think the overall picture shows it pretty well, this one is not marked.
Next is a nice square cut crystal decanter made by Edinburgh crystal
I really like this one and think that somewhere I have another one made by them but may have sold it. They began production in 1867 and still sort of exist today. I say sort of because glass companies tend to have lots of mergers through the years and what exists today with Edinburgh Crystal is basically a name under Waterford. This particular decanter was likely made in the 50's but from the design could go back as far as the early 1900s.
Next in line is a very nice unmarked American brilliant cut heavy lead crystal decanter.
Given the quality of this one it baffles me that it doesn't have a mark. The American brilliant cut period was from 1876 to 1917 it died out because producing quality cut glass pieces like this one was very labor intensive and thus very costly so after World War 1 manufacturers moved away to less costly methods of producing glass items.
That actually brings us to this next piece
This one falls in whats known as the Elegant glass period where heavy cut lead crystal was replaced with thinner more elegant etched glass. This one isn't marked but I wouldn't expect it to be, few pieces were marked during this period. It actually is a hand blown piece with a ground pontil and given the design I would place it in the 20's or 30's. I think in the past I have identified the make of this one but don't have the notes on it. Off hand I think I remember it being made by Tiffin glass which began producing in 1889 and closed in 1984. Tiffin produced very nice elegant glassware and I am always happy to find their pieces.
The next one is another unmarked American brilliant period decanter that is just of exceptional quality.
Nothing too complicated but very nice just the same.
Since I have now run out of room for pictures I will have to continue this on a second post.
Decanters
Moderator: Site Moderator