Webb Corbett Art Deco Decanter and Four Matching Glasses c.1930s-40s

This is a stunning example of an unusual decanter and glasses set, possibly designed by Herbert Webb for Webb Corbett in the 1930s or 1940s.

The decanter has a flattened discoid rim which is engraved with the number ’15’. The body is conical, with eight vertical cut facets down the neck. The body is cut with an incredibly complex design consisting of a central lenticular motif formed from two pairs of wavy mitre cuts that bisect one another. Each of these panels contains two five-pointed fans. The point at which adjacent lenticular panels meet is cut above and below with a vertical lens cut followed by a five-pointed fan cut. Above and below each lenticular panel is a stylised sprig of leaves arranged in a curve, followed by a further curved mitre cut.

The thickened base is star cut and marked at the edge with the words ‘WEBB CORBETT MADE IN ENGLAND’. This mark was in use between 1930 and 1947.

The stopper is of plain, solid form with a flattened discoid upper portion, a short, waisted neck, and a plain, tapering peg. The latter is engraved on the edge with the number ’15’ to correspond with the neck of the decanter.

Each of the four glasses has a similar design to the decanter. The conical bowl tapers in and merges with the short, solid tapering stem. The point where they merge is cut with two rows of eight leaf-shaped wedge cuts arranged horizontally. The bowl is cut with four elongated vertical wedge cuts, each surmounting a seven-pointed fan. Between these vertical wedge cuts is a curved mitre cut below a stylised curved sprig.

The foot is plain and marked in the same manner as the decanter base.

This design may be attributable to Herbert Webb, as both decanter and glass shapes have been used in his designs.

The decanter has a maximum height (including the stopper) of approximately 24.6cm and without the stopper of 22.4cm. It has a diameter across the rim of 5.4cm and across the base of 12.8cm.

The decanter has an unwrapped weight of 840g and a liquid capacity of 700ml.

Each glass has a height of approximately 11.3cm, with a diameter across the rim of about 5.7cm and across the foot of about 5.8cm.

Each glass has a liquid capacity of 75ml and a weight of 110g.

The decanter is in good condition, with some visible scratches around the edge of the base (see photos). There is also a burst bubble at the rim of the decanter, which is a manufacturing artefact. There is a very tiny chip on the edge of the stopper (upper portion) which measures approximately 1mm.

The glasses are in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks, although one of the glasses has a very minor raised bump at the rim which is where the rim was being finished during production. This is only visible on close inspection.