A Bristol Blue Mell Decanter c1830

Description

Heading : A Bristol Blue mell decanter
Date : 1810- 1850
Period : George IV- Victoria
Origin : England. possibly Scotland
Colour : Cobalt blue
Bowl : Compressed onion
Pontil : Polished pontil
Type : Lead glass
Size : 19cm tall
Condition : Excellent
Restoration : None
Weight : 320 grams

Additional Information : These are always thinly blown and were sold with corks.some with ornate silver tops hallmarked in Sheffield or Sheffield plate. In  the journal of the glass association Gordon McFarlan attributes mells to Scotland on the basis that they are frequently engraved with thistles. This is a common enough decorative theme and is most probably wishful thinking. Should everything engraved with a rose be attributed to English production. shamrocks to  Ireland and tulips to Holland ?

This argument fails the common sense test. We know Yorkshire to be the finest of counties and the silver and silver plate workers of Sheffield to be amongst the best in the world. but there were thriving communities of silversmiths in Glasgow. Edinburgh. Aberdeen and Dundee. surely they could produce a silver bottle top ?