c. 1880 BLUE VICTORIAN BRIDES BASKET / CENTERPIECE ~ NR

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c. 1880 BLUE VICTORIAN BRIDES BASKET / CENTERPIECE ~ NR

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Sold Date: 04/13/2008
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Glass

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This auction is for a lovely blue circa 1880 Victorian brides or centerpiece basket. James Tufts manufactured the silverplate frame, and I would attribute the gorgeous bowl to the Mt. Washington Glass house. Do note in the photos that the brides bowl is signed in the dark rust-red manufacturer's marking, and this has been fired into the glass. It's unusual to find the signed pieces anymore.
T are a couple off issues with this set that I'd like to address right away. I'll begin with the silverplate frame. It's a beauty, but it appears that the finial is long gone. It was a clean break, so you won't notice it unless you're standing right over the set. The plating is mottled, but shiny. If you look at the feet and sides, you see that it's truly one of the most ornate frames out t - even without a finial. I had thought to purchase an old Tufts basket & have my silversmith salvage the finial for this one. That's an option you might want to consider also.
Next is the brides bowl. If you'll look at the photos of the inside of the bowl, you'll see that the bird decoration is worn. Everything else looks to be intact except the bird. In addition, the outside casing has some black marks. The outside was almost completely black when I got this set. I used a soft paste of bon ami powder mixed with a few drops of water and cleaned quite a bit of it off. I'm facing some serious time constraints, and am going to leave the rest of this to the new owner.
So far as a general description is concerned, this is one of the most magnificent pieces of Victorian-era art glass I've ever owned. I've had this set for some time now, and long considered it to be too beautiful to part with. The problem is inadequate space, and I really think this set should be displayed w it will be enjoyed.
With the exception of the bird, the decoration on this bowl is phenomenal. T is the charming daisy so prevalent in the Mt. Washington design schemes, and the daisy coloring itself is shaded rose-mauve to blend with the raised dots which radiate along the tightly-crimped ruffles. The butterflies and the bunny tail grass is fabulous. This glass is soft satin inside and out, and if you tap the sides gently with your fingertips you will be rewarded with that resonant church bell ring. The coloring is a brighter yet softer version of the standard Robin's egg blue. The shading on this one is a standout, and I guarantee that t are no chips, cracks, flakes or signs of repair whatsoever. This bowl measures 9" wide by 11" deep, and it stands approximately 4-1/2" tall. The foot measures about 3-1/4" diameter.
The frame is one of Tufts more ornate styles, and is appropriately stamped with his trade mark on the bottom. The style is pure Aesthetic Movement with a touch of Chinoiserie (or Japonesque) flavor in the styling of the feet. I do have more photographs available of both pieces. The frame measures 13" tall by 10-3/4" wide. The well for the bowl measures 3-1/4" diameter. This may well be the original frame for this bowl, as the fit is exceptional.
We are offering this stunning set in a no reserve format to give everyone the opportunity to bid and own an antique brides basket from an era when life was much different than it is today.
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