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Carnival

Bowl
ca. 1926 (made), 1882 (designed), 1910 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Sowerby Ellison Glassworks (manufacturer)
Place of origin
Gateshead (made)

Serving dish of amethyst glass, circular in shape, panelled and on three dolphin feet. The interior is decorated with press moulded peacock tail 'eyes', the exterior press moulded with blossoms, leave and foliage. It has a sprayed on metallic 'sunglow' finish with green/gold iridescence/lustre.

Object details

Category
Glass
Object type
Bowl
Titles
  • Carnival (manufacturer's title)
  • Diving Dolphins (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Glass press moulded, hot-worked, sprayed with metallic lustre
Glass
Moulded
Hot-Worked
Brief description
Glass bowl, made by Sowerby's Ellison Glass Works Ltd., Gateshead, Britain, designed 1882-1910, made c.1926.
Physical description
Serving dish of amethyst glass, circular in shape, panelled and on three dolphin feet. The interior is decorated with press moulded peacock tail 'eyes', the exterior press moulded with blossoms, leave and foliage. It has a sprayed on metallic 'sunglow' finish with green/gold iridescence/lustre.
Dimensions
  • Height: 11.7cm
  • Maximum width: 19.4cm
Style
20TH CONT
Gallery label
The iridescent and variegated colouring is typical of what has become known as 'Carnival' glass. It was achieved by spraying the still hot glass with metallic compunds fixed with stannous chloride. The interior mould is the same design as that used at the Imperial Glass Co. 1910. Its use here by Sowerby's seems to point to plagiarism. There is no record of any contact between the two factories. The exterior mould was first used in 1882.
Credit line
Given by Raymond and Michel Lerpiniere
Object history
This type of glass has been called Carnival Glass by collectors since c.1960. This pattern is called 'Diving Dolphins', the interior 'Scroll Embossed' by modern colelctors.
This seems to be an example of Plagiarism by Sowerby Ellison Glassworks from Imperial Glass Co.
Production
Exterior mould work dates from 1882. The interior was used by Imperial Glass Co. in 1910.
An example of plagiarism - there is no record of any formal link between Sowerby ellison Glassworks and Imperial Glass Co.
Bibliographic reference
See Carnival glass subj. file no.CG-9
Other number
7697 - Glass gallery number
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
C.31-1992

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Record createdDecember 13, 1997
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O4233/carnival-bowl-sowerby-ellison-glassworks/
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