Basket
1889 (design registered)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This basket, in Davidson's 'Pearline' glass, was one of many types of dish that held fruit or sweets or flowers and were used as decorative items on the table. Cheap to manufacture, such decorative items became widely available.
Materials & Making
The technique of press-moulding glass with the aid of a hand-operated machine was first perfected in the United States of America in the early 1820s. It took only two people to shape a measured quantity of hot glass in a heated metal mould. By simply depressing a lever, a metal plunger was lowered into the glass, forcing it into the patterned mould. By the 1830s this method had spread to Europe and Britain, giving rise to stylistic changes and revolutionising the availability of glassware. The technique made the mid-to late 19th century the first period of true mass-production. In the 1890s the introduction of steam-powered presses improved quantity while cutting costs even further.
'Pearline' glass was patented by Thomas Davidson in 1889 as 'glass of any transparent colour whilst towards the top they gradually become milky and at their upper edge opaque'. This effect was achieved by the inclusion of phosphate of lime, arsenic and limespar and, as a final stage, the re-heating of the finished glass object. The most heated area of glass turned opaque.
People
The firm of George Davidson & Co. was founded at Teams Glassworks, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, in 1867. Early production began with the manufacture of glass chimneys for paraffin lamps, but ten years later production was centred on pressed glass wares. Despite the serious setback of an extensive fire at the works in 1881, by 1890 there were 350 employees, the output of finished glass was around 200 - 250 tons per month and there were offices in London, Manchester and Paris. Every type of pressed glass was manufactured, including coloured opaque glass in brown, blue, flint and opal and marbled effects. George Davidson also carried on a very productive barter trade with his brother Joseph in Australia, sending glass, herrings and salad oil out and receiving back butter, wheat, flour, tallow and bicarbonate of soda. George's son Thomas gradually took over management of the works from the late 1870s.
This basket, in Davidson's 'Pearline' glass, was one of many types of dish that held fruit or sweets or flowers and were used as decorative items on the table. Cheap to manufacture, such decorative items became widely available.
Materials & Making
The technique of press-moulding glass with the aid of a hand-operated machine was first perfected in the United States of America in the early 1820s. It took only two people to shape a measured quantity of hot glass in a heated metal mould. By simply depressing a lever, a metal plunger was lowered into the glass, forcing it into the patterned mould. By the 1830s this method had spread to Europe and Britain, giving rise to stylistic changes and revolutionising the availability of glassware. The technique made the mid-to late 19th century the first period of true mass-production. In the 1890s the introduction of steam-powered presses improved quantity while cutting costs even further.
'Pearline' glass was patented by Thomas Davidson in 1889 as 'glass of any transparent colour whilst towards the top they gradually become milky and at their upper edge opaque'. This effect was achieved by the inclusion of phosphate of lime, arsenic and limespar and, as a final stage, the re-heating of the finished glass object. The most heated area of glass turned opaque.
People
The firm of George Davidson & Co. was founded at Teams Glassworks, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, in 1867. Early production began with the manufacture of glass chimneys for paraffin lamps, but ten years later production was centred on pressed glass wares. Despite the serious setback of an extensive fire at the works in 1881, by 1890 there were 350 employees, the output of finished glass was around 200 - 250 tons per month and there were offices in London, Manchester and Paris. Every type of pressed glass was manufactured, including coloured opaque glass in brown, blue, flint and opal and marbled effects. George Davidson also carried on a very productive barter trade with his brother Joseph in Australia, sending glass, herrings and salad oil out and receiving back butter, wheat, flour, tallow and bicarbonate of soda. George's son Thomas gradually took over management of the works from the late 1870s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Press-moulded Pearline glass |
| Brief description | Basket, England (Gateshead-on-Tyne), made by Geo. Davidson & Co., Teams Glass Works, 1889-1900, C.110-1984 . |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Registration number 130643 for 13/8/1889 (Registration number) |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by M. J. Franklin |
| Object history | Manufactured by George Davidson & Co, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear |
| Summary | Object Type This basket, in Davidson's 'Pearline' glass, was one of many types of dish that held fruit or sweets or flowers and were used as decorative items on the table. Cheap to manufacture, such decorative items became widely available. Materials & Making The technique of press-moulding glass with the aid of a hand-operated machine was first perfected in the United States of America in the early 1820s. It took only two people to shape a measured quantity of hot glass in a heated metal mould. By simply depressing a lever, a metal plunger was lowered into the glass, forcing it into the patterned mould. By the 1830s this method had spread to Europe and Britain, giving rise to stylistic changes and revolutionising the availability of glassware. The technique made the mid-to late 19th century the first period of true mass-production. In the 1890s the introduction of steam-powered presses improved quantity while cutting costs even further. 'Pearline' glass was patented by Thomas Davidson in 1889 as 'glass of any transparent colour whilst towards the top they gradually become milky and at their upper edge opaque'. This effect was achieved by the inclusion of phosphate of lime, arsenic and limespar and, as a final stage, the re-heating of the finished glass object. The most heated area of glass turned opaque. People The firm of George Davidson & Co. was founded at Teams Glassworks, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, in 1867. Early production began with the manufacture of glass chimneys for paraffin lamps, but ten years later production was centred on pressed glass wares. Despite the serious setback of an extensive fire at the works in 1881, by 1890 there were 350 employees, the output of finished glass was around 200 - 250 tons per month and there were offices in London, Manchester and Paris. Every type of pressed glass was manufactured, including coloured opaque glass in brown, blue, flint and opal and marbled effects. George Davidson also carried on a very productive barter trade with his brother Joseph in Australia, sending glass, herrings and salad oil out and receiving back butter, wheat, flour, tallow and bicarbonate of soda. George's son Thomas gradually took over management of the works from the late 1870s. |
| Other number | 0852 - Glass gallery number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.110-1984 |
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| Record created | December 13, 1997 |
| Record URL |
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