At Hamilton Osborne King’s sale the example, top right in perfect
condition made IR£1900 (£1600) the one below right with a later stand attracted just IR£500 (£410).
Irish glass, like Irish silver, fetches prices far above those of more common English glass. For instance, a Cork decanter with three neck rings and cut decoration of ferns and stars, 91/2in (24cm) high, made IR£1200 (£1000), perhaps five times the price of a commonplace English equivalent.
Other glass included a 10in (26cm) diameter turn-over bowl which had not been cut – most unusual – on a lemon squeezer base, at IR£1100 (£900) and a 10in (26cm) high late 19th century water jug, engraved by Bohemian emigré Franz Tieze with a pair of swans and a profusion of foliage, which sold at IR£2700 (£2200).
Seeing through the differences in glass
The more collectable the antique, the greater difference small details make to the final price. This general rule may explain the contrasting prices on these two glass bowls, all but identical in date, c.1800, form and origin, Cork or Waterford.
