SOLD – Regency “Sunderland Bridge” Rummer Glass c1820 (EBAY)

Description

A superb Georgian Regency “Sunderland Bridge” Rummer which dates to c1820

The 1796 Sunderland Road Bridge as it should be known was considered to be a major engineering achievement of the era. There are a number of contributory factors. Firstly the banks of the river Wear in Sunderland are very precipitous. the gorge was reputed to be 85 yards wide at the time and place of construction. Secondly the bridge had to be a single span so as not to impede tall masted ships. This was due to coal being loaded further upstream. Sunderland also had a ship building heritage and was known as the biggest ship building town in the world. but at the time the bridge was built there were only a handful of ship yards to the west of the bridge that was located between Sunderland and Monkwearmouth.

Some 50.000 people attended the opening of the bridge on 9th August 1796. an opportunity for commemorative wears for enterprising glass makers. The bridge had a toll for both waggons and pedestrians. despite this the financier. the Member of Parliament for Sunderland one Roland Burden ran into financial difficulties. In 1815 a parliament approved lottery gave the winner a share of the toll revenues. which included ships and ferries that travelled beneath the bridge itself. The bridge was rebuilt by one Robert Stephenson and re-opened in 1859.

 It has a bucket bowl that been engraved with a cartouche depicting the bridge with the obligatory two masted sailing ship beneath. Opposite this there is a further floral cartouche with polished detailing with the initials JAJ in copper script. It has a blade knop above a conical foot. polished pontil. This style of glass could have been made at any time between 1800 and 1830 and we know that the Bridge lost its appeal as a tourist attraction by 1820. but it may very well be earlier.

It stands 5 ½ inches tall with a 3  3/8  inch bowl and 3 inch foot. Lead glass. No chips or cracks or restoration.

References :

English. Scottish & Irish Table Glass By G. Bernard Hughes – Page 193 Figure 139.

Nineteenth Century British Glass By Hugh Wakefield – Plate 46B. 

The Arthur Negus Guide To British Glass By John Brooks – Page 105 Plate 100 and Page 117 Plate 106.

Starting to Collect Antique Glass By John Sandon – Page 46.

Miller’s Glass Buyers Guide – Page 87.

Decanters and Glasses By Therle Hughes – Page 20 Plate 13.