Friday, July 01, 2011

The question was asked whether this bottle is a cologne or a aperitif bottle to go with the companion cordial shown in the line drawing.

John Styler of Prospect Heights, IL thinks he has the answer.

I’m glad to see this mystery was solved early on. If it had not been a decanter anything that large would have to be for toilet water, as it was popular back then.

Glass dealer, Lon Knickerbocker, gives us the benefit of his experience—color by color.

Hi Alan,

I’m afraid I’m with Scott on this one. I have owned this set, decanter and cordials multiple times. The set is most often seen in VDS, but I have owned a complete set in gold aurene also. It is interesting in the other colors I have owned and seen, which are the shown Rosaline over alabaster, green jade over alabaster and Celeste blue, I have never seen a cordial to go with any of these colors. I believe a set probably could have had 6 or 8 cordials suggesting a cordial should be more available than the decanter, they should be somewhere around. I know many goblet collectors and a couple cordial collectors and except for the VDS and gold aurene, as I stated no one has a cordial. Perhaps I will throw out a query, maybe the piece served dual purposes with the colored examples serving as perfumes. I would add, every example I have ever seen has the Hawkes etching and signature. Lon

Then, Bobbie Rockwell of Corning brings another twist to the table.

Hi Alan,

Bobby Rockwell here. If one looks at the line drawings that Steuben made for Hawkes, their shape number (Hawkes)1532 is very similar to yours. The drawing is listed as a decanter.

Judy Morton of Evansville, IN adds to the discussion:

Dear Alan,

The Great Debate re object identified as a cologne bottle or a decanter, could it be a glass object manufactured to serve as a container for my ladies bath oil. I
had one of modern origin that was designed for that purpose. I put forth the question.

decanter/di-‘kane- ter/n: an ornamental glass bottle for serving wine

Langenscheidt’s. Pocket Dictionary. Merriam-Webster

Just maybe the purpose for the lovely glass object is for wine.

Judy Morton

Then, Susan Shovers, of Evansville, IN the owner of the “cologne” puts in her two cents worth.

It is a perfume….it would take a minute funnel to get liquor in there much less perfume. It has a dauber end on the stopper. Scott might be drinking out of a something used on a dressing table….only.

Ed. Bobbie Rockwell points out an interesting thing. In the Paul V. Gardner book, The Glass of Frederick Carder, in the section on Catalog Line Drawings there is a part devoted to blanks sold by Steuben Glass Works to T.G. Hawkes & Co. It starts at page 323. The part on “Decanters and Miscellaneous Items” is at page 329, including shape #1532 referenced by Bobby. Note for shape #1309 that it describes it as a “Decanter or Cologne”. Shape #1029 which has a neck that looks similar to the bottle being discussed is described as a “Bitters Bottle”.

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2011 Carder Steuben Club annual Symposium will be held at The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY from September 15-17, 2011.

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