Late 19th Century Ruby Glass Biscuit Barrel with Bronze Mounts
A gilt bronze mounted overlay ruby glass biscuit barrel, late 19th century, the fine overlaid ruby glass biscuit barrel with lens, star and geometric cuts to body, with bronze scrolled rim and finial, raised on a circular stand supported by four finely cast cherubs. Height 9.84 in., width 9.84 in.
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- Overlay Glass - Overlay glass is coloured glass that has been created by sandwiching two or more layers of different coloured glass together. The layers are fused together through a process of heating and melting in a glass furnace, and the resulting glass has a unique colour and depth that is not found in single-layered glasses.
The technique of overlaying glass has been used for centuries, and was particularly popular in the Venetian glass industry during the Renaissance. Different colours of glass were layered to create intricate designs, and then the layers were carved and etched to create intricate patterns and details. - Finial - An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items, such as spoons, they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.
Finials have a variety of shapes and forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins. - Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.
The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.
It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.
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