SOLD – Georgian James Giles Gilded Ale Glass c.1770

Description

The zenith of luxury period glassware. this superb Georgian James Giles decorated ale glass c1760 has a long round funnel bowl above a plain stem and large conical foot with snapped pontil. But the primary focus has to be the vibrant decoration.

This is only the fourth Giles decorated ale glass that we have offered for sale over the past 12 years. they do not come onto the market very frequently.  Decorated with hop flowers and hop leaves and ears of barley in saltire. a decorative style of which every Georgian glass collector will be familiar. A later Giles decorated facet stem ale glass is featured in a wine lover’s glasses- Ward Lloyd page 79. plate 101 and the gilding in this example is in equally fine condition.

With a clientele that included the Duke of Northumberland. Thomas Pitt. Clive of India and the painter Stubbs and a prestige address just off Trafalgar square it will come as a bit of a surprise to learn that James Giles went bankrupt three times. Apparently up to twenty percent of the output from his workshop was glass. the balance being porcelain. He purchased porcelain “blanks” from Worcester (more on them later) Bow. Chelsea and Derby. decorated them and sold directly to an adoring high end clientele. Luckily some of his records survive and from our perspective there are some interesting snippets of information. He purchased his glass from one William Parker a leading London glass dealer and also from the Falcon glasshouse in Southwark.

The Worcester porcelain factory was obviously displeased with Giles. more likely envious. and together with other creditors schemed for his demise. In 1774 he was declared bankrupt and he died some six years later as a “pauper”. The fundamental problem with the Giles business was his clientele. who had luxury tastes but were less than prompt at paying their bills.

English lead. no chips cracks or restoration. it measures 7 ½ inches tall with a 2 ½ inch bowl and 3 1/8 inch foot.

References :

English Drinking Glasses by Ronald Gabriel – Page 39 Plate 30