Mid-19th Century Nailsea Blue Glass Carafe with Combed Design

This is a classic example of a Nailsea-style glass carafe, probably dating to around 1850.

The Nailsea company was started in 1788 by John Robert Lucas in Nailsea, near Bristol. The factory originally made window glass but also manufactured bottles and a variety of other domestic items. Much of the output was plain glass, but some items had coloured glass worked into them. Looped white, blue, red or pink designs are traditionally known as ‘Nailsea’ and the name is often also applied to any other article with splashes of colour marvered into its surface. There is some evidence to show that a great deal of Nailsea was made elsewhere in the country, particularly in the north of England. Similar items were also made in New England, USA.

The carafe is approximately bottled-shaped with a domed base with a high central ‘kick’. The latter has a rough central pontil. The piece is decorated with a traditional pulled or combed design in blue.

It has a maximum height of approximately 26.5cm and a diameter across the base of about 9.5cm.

It has an unwrapped weight of 580g.

It is in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks, although there are wear and tear scratches to the body and base commensurate with age. There are also striations and ridges within the glass owing to the crude production process.