English Cobalt Blue Glass Mell c1860

Description

Heading : English cobalt blue glass mell c1860
Date : c1860
Period : Victoria
Origin : England or Scotland
Colour : Blue
Neck : Elongated
Body : Mell form. compressed onion
Base : Polished pontil
Glass Type : Lead.
Size : Height: 19.6cm. max diameter 18cm
Condition : Light surface scratches to body. wear to base. There is a ridge of glass that spirals down from the neck onto and over the body. This is a marvering line from manufacture. It is not a crack
Restoration : None
Weight :  712 grams

Ref: The Decanter Ancient to Modern. Andy McConnell. Page 253. illustration 1

Additional Information : This is a particularly weighty example. most are lightly blown. These were sold with corks. some with ornate silver tops hallmarked in Sheffield or made from 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 ?