Featured A piece of Black Amethyst for the Glassies

One more for the day! I've seen plenty of black amethyst glass over the years, and lots of center-handled servers. The servers have always been by themselves, not associated with other things until you got into the good elegant glass and recognized, named patterns. This is the first time I've seen one sitting atop a bowl and it fits. There is no play, the base of the server is exactly the right diameter for the top of this bowl. There is some loss of the silver deposit but both pieces are intense violet when held up to strong light. Any idea who made them? I am certain they fit together, how would you describe it as a unit?


Many thanks!

Linda

 

It's LE Smith glass.

Not sure if it was a biscuit jar or what.

 

Here's a couple
https://www.ebay.com/itm/L-E-Smith-...987645?hash=item2ce4ba7bbd:g:~bkAAOSwty5blu~c
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LE-Smith-B...994303?hash=item5209d0c1bf:g:fTsAAOSwoydWlBN1

 

bean pot does seem to be a popular collector designation and the silver décor has been attributed to Smith
https://chataboutdg.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=5458&mode=search
https://www.worthpoint.com/inventory/search?query=smith+black+bean+pot&category=

edit:
FWIW "R" has it listed as a candy box
https://www.replacements.com/p/smith-glass--smi21-black-candy-box--lid/smismi21bl/115217571

 

The combination of center handled tray and bean pot makes little sense to me but who am I to judge? Thank you everyone! I can move forward with good info now.

Linda

 

Thrifty homemakers would also use the lid as lemon server.

 

Well if it were a candy jar, or biscuit jar, you could use the center handled server to serve what is in the jar.

 

I do not have access to my books but I think the bean pot is pictured with a different cover.

 

I also think it is taller. Bean pot is more like 8".
If I'm not mistaken this is about 4 1/2" - 5" tall.
I'm going on memory, no books here - so I could well be wrong.

 

Could the bottom be a hair receiver and the top hold jewelery?

 

It could be anything you want it to be.
However, I do no think that would have been the original purpose.

 

Great photos, black glass is so hard to photograph.

 

@lvetterli
A few days ago, I was thumbing through a book I was getting ready to price and put out in the store.
Bullfinch's Anatomy of Antique Silver and China by Tim Forrest.
On page 54/55 there was a ceramic container in the shape of the LE Smith item above. Same squat shape with handles and a center server for a lid.
They had it listed as an ice cream server. Ice sat on the lid to keep the ice cream cold. I believe the one shown in the book was mid 1800s. I didn't make a note of that, I should have as I've now forgotten.

I found the one below on a Pinterest page. No information given about it.
I would guess it to be mid 1800s as well.



BTW -
Are others finding it difficult to search for antique or historical items. I keep getting shopping pages for items. Not antique items. Frustrating.