Monart Glass Sea Green Vase with Aventurine Inclusions

• Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
• Inclusions - Inclusions in glass objects refer to small, often irregularly shaped particles or bubbles that are trapped within the glass during the manufacturing process. These inclusions can be intentional or unintentional, and can range in size, shape, and composition.
  
  Intentional inclusions are often added to the glass for decorative purposes, and can include materials such as colored glass, metallic foils, or even small mementos like photographs or other objects. These intentional inclusions are typically added to the glass while it is still in a molten or semi-molten state and are then moulded or blown into the final shape of the object.
  
  Unintentional inclusions, on the other hand, are typically the result of impurities or air bubbles that become trapped within the glass during the manufacturing process. These inclusions can be seen as small specks or bubbles within the glass, and can sometimes be a sign of poor quality control during production.
  
  While intentional inclusions can be a desirable feature of some glass objects, unintentional inclusions can sometimes be seen as a defect, and can reduce the value of a piece. However, in some cases, certain types of unintentional inclusions can actually increase the value of a piece, such as with antique glass that contains bubbles or other imperfections that are characteristic of the time period in which it was made.
• Engraved Glass - The method of decorating glass by marking the surface with a sharp intrument such as a diamond, metal needle or rotating cutting wheel. As pressure is applied to the surface, best results for engraving are achieved if the glass is of sufficient thickness. In the 19th century etching was used to decorate some table glassware that was too fine to take an engraving tool.
• Aventurine Glass - Aventurine glass is a type of glass where small flakes of gold, copper, or silver color form in the glass and provide a glitter or sparkle to the glass when seen in the light. The small flakes are created by adding copper, gold or silver to the molten glass during the glassmaking process.
• Pontil Mark - A pontil mark, also known as a pontil scar, is a distinctive mark or scar found on the base of certain types of glass. It is a remnant of the glassblowing process and is particularly associated with handcrafted items made prior to the widespread use of automated manufacturing.
  
  The pontil mark is created during the final stages of production. After the glassblower has shaped and formed the glass object, it is removed from the blowing iron. At this point, the glass object is often attached to a solid rod called a pontil rod or punty for further shaping, finishing, or attaching additional components. The attachment point is typically at the base of the object.
  
  Once the glass item is complete, it is detached from the pontil rod, leaving behind a mark or scar on the base. This mark can take various forms, such as a rough or irregular surface, a concave or slightly recessed area, or a small circular scar. The presence of a pontil mark indicates that the item was handcrafted rather than mass-produced.
  
  Collectors and historians often use pontil marks as clues to determine the age, authenticity, and production methods of glass or ceramic pieces. Different types of pontil marks may suggest different techniques used in the production process. For example, an open pontil mark is one where the scar is left as an exposed, roughened area, while a closed pontil mark occurs when the scar is smoothed or covered in some way. It's important to note that not all handcrafted glass items have pontil marks, as some artisans developed alternative methods for finishing their work. In Edwardian times the pontil mark was oftern ground off leaving a concave circle in the centre of the base of the object.
  
  The use of pontil marks diminished with the advent of industrialization and automated manufacturing processes in the 19th and 20th centuries.
  
  

This item has been included into following indexes:

• Monart Glass (Moncrief Glassworks) (Scotland) - glass makers 28