Today has been a day for glass and crystal donations. Along with some Champagne flutes (from £4 a set) and some posey and stem vases (from £2), this piece was just chucked into the bag....
The one piece that wasn't wrapped up at all and it is the most interesting.
We always check for marks on items just in case, although most of the time it is 'made in china'. Etched on the bottom was some numbers and letters which took a while and some bright light to be able to read "Ernest Gordon" on the top with "Kosta GS *something*007" (So as we can't read the number apart from the 007 it has been nicknamed the Bond bowl!)
Many books and a google later and I can tell you this is a piece of etched glass by him. British designer Ernest Gordon for the Swedish factories of Åfors and Kosta.
(Taken from the link) "Ernest Gordon Adsetts was born in Sheffield on Boxing Day, 1926. From 1941- 44 he studied sculpture at the Sheffield College of Art, where he met the sculptor George Fullard, and was later awarded a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in South Kensington. He worked closely with George at the RCA and shared a studio with him in the King's Road, Chelsea. Ernest Gordon’s designs in glass were wide and varied....However, of the many techniques he utilised there are two most commonly represented in his designs: a controlled bubble technique in black, using soot to create a myriad of small bubbles as a background, and detailed engravings, covering many subjects and styles and often showing a whimsical side."
The GS means that it is cut glass (Gordon was G, so at Kosta GD was engraved, GS cut, GH hand formed, GG engraved. You really do learn something new everyday!)
The bowl has half moon shapes cut onto it, making a very pleasing pattern around it.
However it does have some scratches on the glass from where it hasn't been stored correctly. (not our fault! honest guv)
Our friend in the glass know has valued it for us. This piece is £250 (sadly not gift aided, but we can't win 'em all...)
You can visit us 7 days a week. Even on a Sunday we are open from 11am till 4pm.
However this Sunday as well as Glastonbury happening, I shall be glued to the tellybox watching super fast and sexy F1 cars doing laps of Silverstone. Vroooooooooom!!! (But the ever so lovely Andrew the relief manager, will be in ready to take your money.)
Good 'ol Wikipedia says "Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)."
It is the only sport that I get super excited about and I MUST watch. Formula 1 is just a feast for the senses. Plus the BBC has Fleetwood Mac's, The Chain as the intro music and it is just the most perfect music choice.
Love a bit of wheel to wheel racing, and with such characters as Kimi Raikkonen (my favourite) and Jenson Button and 'baddies' like Fernando Alonso to cheer when they crash put - mwahahahaha! - the 2013 season is heating up nicely.
Kimi's awesome radio chatter at Abu Dhabi 2012
Brook Green wants to get in on the action so here we have some Formula 1 caps. Oh yes. Some old Jordan racing caps, signed, but we can't make out the signature - possibly Giancarlo Fisichella - and an old Caterham/Lotus team cap.
Selling at £4 and £28 for the signed caps, you can pretend you in the DRS zone and overtaking for the lead.... "....And look at that overtake! Inches apart, will she make it stick?....YES SHE DOES. Great move...." No? Just me then. ho hum. Anyway where was I? oh yes. BUY our hats.
oh and we also have Senna on DVD (£2) for those who have yet to see the documentary movie. I give it 5 stars. Brilliant. 10 out of 10.
