Glass Fern-shaped Pitcher With Engraved Decoration And A Fluted Neck, Late 18th Century, 18th-century Folk Art

A pitcher made of hand-blown fougère glass, tinted water green; the pear-shaped body features a traditional wheel-incised design depicting a large stylized flower (thistle or sunflower) on a checkered pattern, flanked by sinuous stems and small scrolls.

The piece is characterized by its very thin walls, dotted with tiny air bubbles.

The neck is encircled by a banded design composed of fine horizontal glass fillets applied while hot, ending in a pinched spout. A large, hollow, blown handle—also applied while hot—is attached beneath the neck and connected to the base by a claw-shaped clip formed with pliers. A pontil mark is visible beneath the base.

France, likely from a forest glassworks in the East (Argonne) or Normandy, circa 1780–1790.

Dimensions: height 24.5 cm – weight 438 grams.

Very good overall condition. I note a micro-chip of barely one millimeter on one of the glass fillets applied around the neck, which does not affect the piece’s structural integrity (visible in photo 9). No cracks. The glass has retained its original clarity, with no clouding.