19th Century Love Token Glass Rolling Pin c1815

Description

Heading : 19th Century love token rolling pin
Date : c1815
Origin : England
Bowl Features : Bristol blue glass with enamels and gilding. Gilding “REMEMBER ME” with Union Jacks and French Tricolors
Type : Lead
Size : 36.5 lenght. 5.7cm diameter
Condition : The gilding and enamels are rather worn. a slice chip at the sealed end
Restoration : None
Weight : 306 grams

Often referred to as “love tokens”. many carry slogans such as “wait for me” and “be true to me” and were supposedly gifts from sailors to their betrothed. We can find no evidence for this. They are more likely to be items to be discussed or decorative items. We have sold two pins that had metal and cork stoppers. it is possible that they may have been filled with water or rice and used for rolling pastry. but more likely to contain items to be kept dry. such as salt.

The historically interested mind will note that the date of c1815 lands this piece in a period where Anglo-French relationships were at an all time low.

Rolling pins. walking sticks. lamps and pipes were made with ‘end of day’ glass by all manufactories. Attributing all of this glass to the Nailsea glassworks alone is unsound. or Alloa for that matter of anything relating to Bristol.