Part 3

So many specimens were made to order, and were therefore of special shape and cutting, that it is very difficult for the uninitiated to recognise a piece as being of any certain factory or period, and he is naturally mystified when he tries to classify such pieces into more or less well-known categories. For instance, an ancestor of mine had in his possession an early deep coloured bowl, cover, and stand of exceptional quality, made about 1750. His son, in 1790, had it cut in "flat diamonds" (a cutting then much in vogue), the result being a specimen of early dark "wavy" glass, adorned with the beautiful cutting of forty years later, and this is only _one_ instance of many which could be quoted.

IRISH GLASS SOLD ABROAD.

Great quantities of Irish glass were made, and the official Irish records show that large numbers of pieces were exported to America, Spain, Portugal, and the West Indies, etc. Many of our finest specimens were also taken to Holland, where they found a permanent home, _and were extensively copied by the foreign glass-makers_.

France was very keen on Irish glass, and I have unearthed there some very lovely and absolutely genuine specimens, especially wall-lights and chandeliers.

Needless to say, a very big trade was done by the glass-houses direct with old Irish families, who gave large orders for glass-ware, ranging from single pieces to complete table services, of which few records appear to have been kept.

UNCUT PIECES.

A large amount of Irish glass was made and put by, uncut, as Irish families (especially those who lived near the glass-houses) preferred to choose their own cuttings from drawings, so as to have something different from their neighbours. This accounts for the number of uncut pieces still to be found in various parts of Ireland, especially thick finger-bowls, which were, undoubtedly, made in great quantities to await orders.

THE ILLUSTRATIONS.

The following plates give some idea of the beautiful pieces of glass which have left Ireland, but there are magnificent specimens still there, which will probably never be placed on the market--pieces as poetic in design as their owners are in mind; pieces that will live for the sons and heirs to love and cherish with the many other treasures of Ireland's finest periods, long after Sinn Feiners have ceased their endeavours to destroy all that is best and loveliest in the old country.

At the time of writing this, I find an enormous amount of spurious "Irish" glass on the market, and I take this opportunity of warning all collectors and dealers (many of whom are my friends) to be exceedingly careful. It is essential that all lovers of Irish glass should keep their collections pure, and some of these fakes are so clever that dealers will have to exercise the greatest vigilance and care if they are to avoid the ignominy of having pieces which they have sold in good faith returned to them as "wrong." At the present time, all the best known dealers in Irish glass are trusted by their customers, and their advice is taken without question. It is in the best interests of their great profession that this sense of confidence should remain.

In conclusion, I should like to add that I hope this book--written, as it is, at the request of many lovers of Irish glass--may be a real help to the novice, and assist him to distinguish between the "true" piece and the forgery.

ILLUSTRATIONS

_Photos by Hana_

=BOWLS, DISHES, PLATES AND TAZZE=

PLATE IX.

PLATE X.

PLATE XI.

PLATE XII.

PLATE XIII.

PLATE XIV.

PLATE XV.

PLATE XVI.

PLATE XVII.

PLATE XVIII.

PLATE XIX.

PLATE XX.

PLATE XXI.

PLATE XXII.

=CANDELABRA, CANDLESTICKS AND CHANDELIERS=

PLATE XXIII.

PLATE XXIV.

PLATE XXV.

PLATE XXVI.

PLATE XXVII.

PLATE XXVIII.

PLATE XXIX.

PLATE XXX.

PLATE XXXI.

PLATE XXXII.

PLATE XXXIII.

PLATE XXXIV.

PLATE XXXV.

PLATE XXXVI.

PLATE XXXVII.

PLATE XXXVIII.

PLATE XXXIX.

=DECANTERS, JUGS, AND BOTTLES=

PLATE XL.

PLATE XLI.

PLATE XLII.

PLATE XLIII.

=GOBLETS, CUPS, AND CHALICES=

PLATE XLIV.

PLATE XLV.

=SWEETMEAT STANDS=

PLATE XLVI.

=TABLE SERVICES=

PLATE XLVII.

PLATE XLVIII.

PLATE XLIX.

=URNS, HONEY POTS, SALTS, ETC.=

PLATE L.

PLATE LI.

=MISCELLANEOUS=

PLATE LII.

PLATE LIII.

=RUBBINGS=

PLATE LIV.

PLATE LV.

PLATE LVI.

PLATE LVII.

PLATE LVIII.

PLATE LIX.

PLATE LX.

Transcriber's Notes:

Plate XI caption, removed "." from "rainbow." band.

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal signs=.

HTML version, Illustrations have been laid out sequentially, with captions below each.