Late Victorian Large Glass Footed Flower Vase with Engraved Owl and Moon Motif c.1880

This is a charming and unusual large lead glass vase dating to the end of the 19th century.

The vase has an elongated bell-shaped body that tapers in towards a thickened base. The body is hand-engraved with a continuous circumferential branch motif in the lower third, upon which sits an owl. Above the owl, to the right, the moon is smiling down. This owl and moon motif repeats on the opposite side of the vase.

There is a wide, discoid collar the junction of the body and the short, baluster-shaped stem. This tapers in before merging with the broad, discoid foot. The latter has a central polished pontil and is unmarked.

It has a height of approximately 23.5cm, with a diameter across the rim of about 12.0cm and across the foot of about 12.0cm.

It has an unwrapped weight of 760g.

It is in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks, although there are some minor wear and tear scratches to the body and the underside of the foot commensurate with age and use. The foot is also not entirely circular, with a ‘dent’ on one side which would have been made during the manufacturing process. This is visible in the photographs.