2015/1.200
Glassware Collection - Worcestershire Museum of Freemasonry
A Mid 19th century Bristol Blue globe and shaft form decanter.
WMLMT Classification:- Decanter
Country of Origin:- England
Province/Region/District:- Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire - United Grand Lodge of England
Associated Unit (Lodge/Chapter Etc.):- Lodge of Semper Fidelis No.529
Order:- Craft (Blue Masonry)
Description
"Origin: Bristol.
Style: A ‘Bristol blue’ decanter in the form of globe and shaft style and gilded with a square and compasses on one side and verso a gilded square with ‘Semper Fidelis along the two sides of it. ‘772’ below the square. .. A narrow neck leading to a flat everted rim 5cm in diameter. The glass has a highly polished lustre.
Lodge Semper Fidelis was consecrated on September 7th 1846, and assigned a Lodge number of 772 (now 529)
Two sets of spirit decanters of this design were presented to the Lodge by Brother W. Haigh, Gentleman, in March 1859.
During the late 18th century Richard Champion, a Bristol merchant and potter making Bristol porcelain, was working with a chemist, William Cookworthy, who began a search for good quality cobalt oxide to give the blue glaze decoration on the white porcelain.
Cookworthy obtained exclusive import rights to all the cobalt oxide from the Royal Saxon Cobalt Works in Saxony.
In 1774, Lazarus and Isaac Jacobs launched Bristol Blue glass as a national brand, using the cobalt oxide Cookworthy imported. Isaac was responsible for the great growth of the company, the expansion of its goods, held a royal warrant, and made glass for the aristocrats of Europe."
Properties
"Glass: Soda in deep blue flashed over clear.
Weight: 789 grams.
Pontil: Ground out.
Height: 20.3cm.
Width: The width of the globe is 17cm.
Condition: Very good. A few surface scratches and one minor manufacturing line about 1cm long. No rubbing of the gilding save one very minor rub to the middle‘7’. Wear on the base commensurate with use."
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