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STUART CRYSTAL DECANTERS

I am a big fan of Stuart Crystals pre-war production. I have favourite patterns, so I am afraid you may see a bit of stuff that all looks fairly similar, in either shape or pattern. Sorry.

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Decanters

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Description, References and Size

Stuart Crystal Glengarry pattern decanter. Designed in the 1930s, probably by Geoffrey Stuart.

Whilst being slightly dumpy in shape, this is still a nice decanter with the cutting well laid out and nicely shaped stopper. The shape could be considered a practical compromise, in that it is unlikely to knock over easily but doesn't use up too much table room.

The panel cut neck of the decanter with small horizonal grooves cut in it, is a commonly used Stuart Crystal motif that is applied to other patterns.

I think I may have said elsewhere that I would try and collect some modern decanters but I am afraid this design just grated me a bit. My wife said something has to go, so a pair of these was amongst that something. Don't feel sad for them, someone liked them.

Reference: The Decanter, Andy McConnell, page 508

Height: 11.5 inches

Width: 5 inches

This is a small Stuart decanter with a basic criss cross cutting pattern to the body, panel cut shoulders, and two faux neck rings. The stopper is a disc like mushroom with radiating cutting on top and slice cuts to the neck.

To my knowledge this decanter shape originated in the 1930s, it was made in different sizes and cut with different patterns on it. It seems that once Stuart decided it liked a shape or pattern it was then willing to max and match them. How frequently this was done I don't know, the shapes and patterns could have been switched annually, on the other hand Stuart may have carried a wide range of patterns for each shape it produced.

I don't know what the cut pattern is called, so any assistance would be gratefully accepted.

Height: 7 inches

Width: 3.75 inches

Stuart Glencoe pattern decanter.

This is a Prussian shaped decanter with two faux neck rings, panel cut shoulders and the Glencoe pattern cut on the base. It has a mushroom stopper with radiating grooves.

This decanter is modelled on Regency Prussian shaped decanters, although these normally had three applied neck rings. I am not a fan of this decanter as it's a complete pastiche of an older style and doesn't bring anything original to the design.

Also to add injury to insult the faux neck rings are just made using contours in the mold the glass is blown into. This just strikes me as a cheap way to create the effect of neck rings without the effort and skill of making them. For a supposedly quality product, this just doesn't sit right with me.

Height: 9 inches

Width: 4.5 inches

This is a conical decanter with a panel cut neck cut through with five bands of horizontal elipses. The body is cut into fields with stylised leaf motifs. The stopper is hollow drop shape with similar cutting to the body. Probably made in the 1930s.

This typical restrained British art deco design, of the type designed by Ludwig Kny, Stuart's Chief Designers from 1918-37.

Reference: Miller's 20th Century Glass, Andy McConnell, page 238

Reference: The Decanter, Andy McConnell, page 508

Height: 12 inches

Width: 5 inches

This is a Stuart Crystal clear glass conical decanter with a green stopper and panel cut neck. The stopper shape mirrors the body shape but with an open top. It is Stuart's pattern number 26933 and etched underneath with the mark; Stuart ENGLAND. Made in the 1930s.

A really strong design, and you would think the stopper is designed to have a little drink out of, but I am not so sure as there glasses designed to go this type of decanter.

Reference: British Glass Between the Wars, Roger Dodsworth, pages 97 & 98

Reference: 20th Century British Glass, Charles R. Hajdamach, page 136

Reference: The Decanter Ancient to Modern, Andy McConnell, page 407

Reference: Decanters, David Leigh, Page 32

Height: 12 inches

Width: 5 inches

This is a clear glass conical decanter with an amber stopper and panel cut neck. The body and stopper have complimentary stylised flower motifs cut into them. The stopper shape mirrors the body shape but with an open top. Etched underneath with the mark; Stuart ENGLAND. Made in the 1930s.

The perfection in matching the size and shape all the decanters I have of this pattern shows that the glass is blown into a mould. Somehow with no seams showing and finished by a hand as they have polished pontil marks.

Reference: British Glass Between the Wars, Roger Dodsworth, pages 97 & 98

Reference: The Decanter Ancient to Modern, Andy McConnell, page 407

Reference: Decanters, David Leigh, Page 32

Height: 12 inches

Width: 5 inches

This is a clear glass conical decanter with an amber stopper and panel cut neck. The body and stopper have complimentary stylised flower motifs cut into them. The stopper shape mirrors the body shape but with an open top. It is Stuart's pattern number 26800 and etched underneath with the mark; Stuart ENGLAND. Made in the 1930s.

Ludwig Kny Stuart Crystals chief designer from 1918 to 1937 will have created this and the previous stylised floral motif. To my eyes this is a much more successful version of the decanter. The motif on previous decanter seems more hesitant and too delicate for this bold shape.

Reference: British Glass Between the Wars, Roger Dodsworth, pages 97 & 98

Reference: 20th Century British Glass, Charles R. Hajdamach, page 136

Reference: The Decanter Ancient to Modern, Andy McConnell, page 407

Reference: Decanters, David Leigh, Page 32

Height: 12 inches

Width: 5 inches

This is a Stuart Crystal barrel shaped decanter with the vertical bars and stylised leaf pattern. The mushroom stopper has radical cutting. Etched underneath with the mark; Stuart ENGLAND. Designed in 1930s by Ludwig Kny.

The same shape as the previous decanter but with a different Kny pattern cut into it. I like this pattern, but am not so keen on the retro Georgian style cutting of the stopper, I think the other form of stopper as previous would have better suited this decanter. That is only my opinion though.

Reference: Miller's 20th Century Glass, Andy McConnell, page 237

Height: 8.75 inches

Width: 4.25 inches

This is a Stuart Crystal barrel shaped decanter with fields of vertical bars and vertically arranged cut ovals. The mushroom stopper has a polished flat top and six ellipses cut around the edge. Etched underneath with the mark; Stuart ENGLAND. Probably designed in the late 1930s by Geoffrey Stuart.

Geoffrey Stuart was more into geometric patterns opposed Ludwig Kny's stylised leaves and ferns, and that is why I am attributing this cut pattern to him.

Height: 8.75 inches

Width: 4.25 inches

This is a Stuart Crystal barrel shaped decanter with engraved with simple swags bisected with vertical leaves, called the Tamara pattern. The mushroom stopper has a polished flat top and six ellipses cut around the edge. Etched underneath with the mark; Stuart ENGLAND. Designed in 1930s by Ludwig Kny.

Ludwig Kny patterns run from dense and intense to quite minimalist, but they do have a feel and re-occuring iconography. This is a really nice pattern and is a bit like a wallpaper or fabric pattern. It is possible to collect this pattern and make a stylish service.

Reference: The Decanter Ancient to Modern, Andy McConnell, page 423

Reference: British Table and Ornamental Glass, L. M. Angus-Butterworth, Fig.96

Height: 8.75 inches

Width: 4.25 inches

This is a Stuart Crystal Ellesmere pattern footed ovoid shaped decanter cut with stylised leaf patterns to the base and surmounted by fern patterns. The flat topped ovoid stopper has six flat cut surfaces. Etched underneath with the mark; Stuart ENGLAND. Designed in the mid 1930s by Ludwig Kny.

The decanters in this shape must have been higher up in Stuarts' price range as they not only look impressive the ones I have all have some fairly intense cutting to them. Ellesmere is ones of the more standard patterns produced by Staurt but you can tell is was not one of the cheaper ones. Unfortunately although I have a number Staurt catalogues I don't have prices for comparison.

Reference: Miller's 20th Century Glass, Andy McConnell, page 237

Reference: The Decanter Ancient to Modern, Andy McConnell, page 406

Reference: British Table and Ornamental Glass, L. M. Angus-Butterworth, Fig.89

Height: 12 inches

Width: 4 inches

This is a Stuart Crystal footed ovoid shaped decanter with a stylised leaf pattern. The flat topped ovoid stopper has six flat cut surfaces. Etched underneath with the mark; Stuart ENGLAND. Designed in the mid 1930s by Ludwig Kny.

Ludwig Kny was reknowned for this type of stylised leaf pattern, I think this is him at his best with bold geometric leaf patterns.

Reference: Miller's 20th Century Glass, Andy McConnell, page 237

Reference: The Decanter Ancient to Modern, Andy McConnell, page 406

Height: 12 inches

Width: 4 inches

This is a Stuart Crystal footed ovoid shaped decanter with a pattern of flowers framed in diagonal grooves. The upper edge of the foot cut frieze pattern. The flat topped ovoid stopper has six flat cut surfaces. Etched underneath with the mark; Stuart ENGLAND. Probably designed in the mid 1930s.

I have only been able to find this pattern on one of the catalogues on a vase. I doesn't feel like a Lugwig Kny design and to be truthful I am not a big fan of this, even though it looks like it would have been expensive to make. The thing I do like on this is the detailing on the top edge of the foot, none of the other decanters have this.

Reference: Miller's 20th Century Glass, Andy McConnell, page 237

Reference: The Decanter Ancient to Modern, Andy McConnell, page 406

Height: 12 inches

Width: 4 inches

This is a Stuart Crystal ovoid shaped decanter with a short neck and no pouring lip. It a widening column shaped flat topped stopper with three horizontal grooves cut into it. The body of the decanter has a series of vetical lines and stylised leaves cut into it. All cutting has been left matt and unpolished. Stuart made decanters of this shape in the 1930s and it was probably designed by Ludwig Kny.

This decanter is quite a radical step away from the norm with no neck to speak of and no pouring lip. It looks good, but it is impactical as a decanter, especially if you have small hands, as you would need to grab hold of the big egg shaped body. Not a good proposition for drunk people.

Height: 9 inches

Width: 5 inches

This is a Stuart Crystal waisted decanter with a horizontal freize of stylised leaves surmounting two cut grooves and panel cut shoulders. The mushroom stopper has radial cutting to the top. Probably made 1920s to 1930s.

This shape of decanter was produced through the 1920s and 30s and leaf pattern is the same as is used on what was originally called the "Georgian" pattern and was later know as "Arundel".

Reference: The Decanter, Andy McConnell, page 508

Reference: British Table and Ornamental Glass, L. M. Angus-Butterworth, Fig.93

Height: 8.5 inches

Width: 4.5 inches

This is a Stuart Crystal shaft and globe decanter, with rib moulded body with four dimples between each of which is an applied uranium green rigaree trail and silver collar. The stopper an in upright leaf with an applied and crimped uranium green edge. Silver collar hallmarked London 1897.

This is an invogue decanter of the period by Stuart Crystal. It is as good as anything made by Whitefriars glass at that time. Unfortunately the silver makers mark is too indistinct to make out.

Reference: The Decanter, Andy McConnell, page 412 & 485

Height: 10 inches

Width: 5 inches

This is a Stuart Crystal shaft and globe decanter, with rib moulded body with four dimples between each of which is an applied uranium yellow rigaree trail and an applied uranium yellow neck ring. The stopper an in upright leaf with an applied and crimped uranium yellow edge. Made circa 1890-1900.

A smaller version of the above decanter, with all the making the same except on a smaller scale.

Reference: The Decanter, Andy McConnell, page 412 & 485

Height: 6.5 inches

Width: 3.5 inches

This is a Stuart Crystal gourde shaped decanter, with rib moulded body with 6 prunts around the upper body and an applied rigaree neck ring, and four spout silver neck collar. The stopper is not original. Designed in 1889.

I added this stopper just to provide a bit of proportion, but the one illusatrated in the book has a stopper with prunts.

Reference: British Glass 1800-1914, Charles Hajdamach, page 266

Height: 6.5 inches

Width: 3.5 inches

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