Simon Dear
@simondear.bsky.social
Freethinker, magazine editor, open source researcher, genealogist, specialist in antique glass
Rarely, old German glass marbles have “sulphide” inclusions. A popular theme are animals, made of a white substance (plaster of Paris?) and encased in clear glass. Here is a little zoo - a camel, bear, dog, sheep, goat, bird, and fish. The largest measures 2.5 inches diameter.
November 28, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Rarely, old German glass marbles have “sulphide” inclusions. A popular theme are animals, made of a white substance (plaster of Paris?) and encased in clear glass. Here is a little zoo - a camel, bear, dog, sheep, goat, bird, and fish. The largest measures 2.5 inches diameter.
A Bacarrat goblet c1850 with latticinio applied to the rim of bowl and foot, and similar stem, along with a beaker with similar rim. The goblet is finely engraved with sprays of flowers.
November 20, 2025 at 4:16 PM
A Bacarrat goblet c1850 with latticinio applied to the rim of bowl and foot, and similar stem, along with a beaker with similar rim. The goblet is finely engraved with sprays of flowers.
A Bohemian finely engraved glass beaker with scene of Teplitz (Teplice) (in today's Czechia)
c1820. The top half of the bowl has a panoramic view of the town with a horse and cart in the foreground. The workmanship and detail on this glass is exceptional.
c1820. The top half of the bowl has a panoramic view of the town with a horse and cart in the foreground. The workmanship and detail on this glass is exceptional.
October 20, 2025 at 9:29 AM
A Bohemian finely engraved glass beaker with scene of Teplitz (Teplice) (in today's Czechia)
c1820. The top half of the bowl has a panoramic view of the town with a horse and cart in the foreground. The workmanship and detail on this glass is exceptional.
c1820. The top half of the bowl has a panoramic view of the town with a horse and cart in the foreground. The workmanship and detail on this glass is exceptional.
A Whitefriars ‘sunspot’ sun-catcher designed by Geoffrey Baxter 1969. It measures nearly 8” diameter. A classic iconic design.
October 16, 2025 at 7:54 AM
A Whitefriars ‘sunspot’ sun-catcher designed by Geoffrey Baxter 1969. It measures nearly 8” diameter. A classic iconic design.
A German solid core glass marble dating from c1900. Diameter 1 3/8 inches. These were formed from a glass rod containing the design, the same diameter as the marble.
October 16, 2025 at 7:47 AM
A German solid core glass marble dating from c1900. Diameter 1 3/8 inches. These were formed from a glass rod containing the design, the same diameter as the marble.
Happiness is being in the queue for an early morning antiques market!
August 12, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Happiness is being in the queue for an early morning antiques market!
An encased latticinio scent bottle, possibly by the French factories Clichy or Saint Louis, dating from c1840. The threats are backed with white glass and encased in thick clear glass which has then been pillar faceted. The precision with which this is made is incredible.
July 26, 2025 at 1:30 PM
An encased latticinio scent bottle, possibly by the French factories Clichy or Saint Louis, dating from c1840. The threats are backed with white glass and encased in thick clear glass which has then been pillar faceted. The precision with which this is made is incredible.
“Dump” paperweights were reputedly made from bottle glass left over at the end of the working day. The more common varieties include trapped bubbles and flowers made of foil or frit. Here we see the bowl of an old clay pipe encased in glass. Dates from 1920s, prior to automation of glass factories.
May 1, 2025 at 6:57 AM
“Dump” paperweights were reputedly made from bottle glass left over at the end of the working day. The more common varieties include trapped bubbles and flowers made of foil or frit. Here we see the bowl of an old clay pipe encased in glass. Dates from 1920s, prior to automation of glass factories.
A 1930s Paul Ysart paperweight with loosely arranged millefiori canes on a light blue jasper ground. In recent years these handsome pieces, usually generously sized with a tasteful colour palette, have become very affordable.
April 19, 2025 at 12:42 PM
A 1930s Paul Ysart paperweight with loosely arranged millefiori canes on a light blue jasper ground. In recent years these handsome pieces, usually generously sized with a tasteful colour palette, have become very affordable.
A small Calcedonio vase made by Lorenzo Radi c1850-1860. Radi rediscovered the Renaissance glass technique of recreating the effect of Chalcedony agate by applying metal oxides to the outside of the glass.
April 9, 2025 at 7:48 AM
A small Calcedonio vase made by Lorenzo Radi c1850-1860. Radi rediscovered the Renaissance glass technique of recreating the effect of Chalcedony agate by applying metal oxides to the outside of the glass.
An ‘in the wild’ shot of a stunning Salviati red vase hand-decorated in gilt neoclassical scenes and enamels, c1900.
April 4, 2025 at 12:49 PM
An ‘in the wild’ shot of a stunning Salviati red vase hand-decorated in gilt neoclassical scenes and enamels, c1900.
Glass marbles, ostensibly children’s toys, gleam like little jewels on this mahogany solitaire boards. Such marbles were handmade, and produced in Germany from 1850 to 1920s. Today they are highly collectible.
March 10, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Glass marbles, ostensibly children’s toys, gleam like little jewels on this mahogany solitaire boards. Such marbles were handmade, and produced in Germany from 1850 to 1920s. Today they are highly collectible.
A Russian glass goblet engraved with sunflowers, probably made at the Imperial Glassworks and engraved in St Petersburg during the reign of tsarina Catherine the Great (1762-1796). Most contemporary glasses are engraved with royal cyphers or symbols.
February 20, 2025 at 8:51 AM
A Russian glass goblet engraved with sunflowers, probably made at the Imperial Glassworks and engraved in St Petersburg during the reign of tsarina Catherine the Great (1762-1796). Most contemporary glasses are engraved with royal cyphers or symbols.
A glass letter seal, possibly Josephineenhutte from c1850, giving the impression of a sitting stag.
February 3, 2025 at 8:38 AM
A glass letter seal, possibly Josephineenhutte from c1850, giving the impression of a sitting stag.
A Clichy barber-pole paperweight has complex millefiori caned spaced with colour twists set above a ground of ‘tossed muslin’. Dates from 1845-50.
January 7, 2025 at 8:42 AM
A Clichy barber-pole paperweight has complex millefiori caned spaced with colour twists set above a ground of ‘tossed muslin’. Dates from 1845-50.
A Pietro Bigaglia filigree flask c1840-50, with applied aventurine rim and vermicular collar. The foot is formed from the same glass as the body.
December 18, 2024 at 9:52 AM
A Pietro Bigaglia filigree flask c1840-50, with applied aventurine rim and vermicular collar. The foot is formed from the same glass as the body.
It never surprises what turns up at antique fairs. Take this Pantin small lampwork fruit weight c1850. Not sure what fruit these are - currants?
December 15, 2024 at 11:34 AM
It never surprises what turns up at antique fairs. Take this Pantin small lampwork fruit weight c1850. Not sure what fruit these are - currants?
A glass paperweight by Pietro Bigaglia, Venice, c1840-50. The low dome is filled with latticinio, colour twists, and discrete blobs of aventurine.
December 12, 2024 at 8:27 AM
A glass paperweight by Pietro Bigaglia, Venice, c1840-50. The low dome is filled with latticinio, colour twists, and discrete blobs of aventurine.
A Clichy lamp-work paperweight of a blue flower (anyone know what it is?), made in France c1850. Clichy made mostly millefiori paperweights, and lamp-work examples like this are uncommon. This was found in a box of modern Chinese paperweights and priced accordingly.
December 7, 2024 at 8:38 AM
A Clichy lamp-work paperweight of a blue flower (anyone know what it is?), made in France c1850. Clichy made mostly millefiori paperweights, and lamp-work examples like this are uncommon. This was found in a box of modern Chinese paperweights and priced accordingly.
A filigree glass made by Pietro Bigaglia, Venice, c1840. The style is similar to Venetian glass made in preceding centuries. Bigaglia played an important part in rediscovering these lost techniques.
December 2, 2024 at 2:22 PM
A filigree glass made by Pietro Bigaglia, Venice, c1840. The style is similar to Venetian glass made in preceding centuries. Bigaglia played an important part in rediscovering these lost techniques.
A glass millefiori plaque, possibly from Venice or Florence, dating from the 16th century.
December 1, 2024 at 5:08 PM
A glass millefiori plaque, possibly from Venice or Florence, dating from the 16th century.
An early glass “paperweight” of unknown origin, though possibly Venetian, 18th century. The cockerel at centre is often used as a symbol for Venice. The millefiori and twists, set on a black ground, appear to fill the dome, in the manner of well-described Venetian balls of the 16th-18th century.
November 30, 2024 at 11:13 AM
An early glass “paperweight” of unknown origin, though possibly Venetian, 18th century. The cockerel at centre is often used as a symbol for Venice. The millefiori and twists, set on a black ground, appear to fill the dome, in the manner of well-described Venetian balls of the 16th-18th century.
Some Venetian glass beakers. The three at left date from 1840-50 and were made by Pietro Bigaglia. They are made of polychrome and aventurine glass, applied aventurine rim. They demonstrate the combed threading technique (a penne). Beaker on right possibly 1950s, Salviati.
November 23, 2024 at 5:28 PM
Some Venetian glass beakers. The three at left date from 1840-50 and were made by Pietro Bigaglia. They are made of polychrome and aventurine glass, applied aventurine rim. They demonstrate the combed threading technique (a penne). Beaker on right possibly 1950s, Salviati.
A Venetian ornamental millefiori glass ball dating from 17th-18th century. 5.3cm diameter. A very similar example is in the Chrysler Museum of Art.
November 14, 2024 at 4:37 PM
A Venetian ornamental millefiori glass ball dating from 17th-18th century. 5.3cm diameter. A very similar example is in the Chrysler Museum of Art.