This is a antique /vintage Sowerby Art Deco half-moon glass vase. ( Circle on base slightly rubbed)
It is a clear, pressed-glass vase or bowl.
The piece was manufactured by the British company Sowerby in the 1930s.
It features a distinctive semi-circle or half-moon shape on a thick base.
The design includes two raised, curved bands on the sides, adding to its Art Deco style.
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Some minor age related wear has a lovely yellow tinge in the light
 
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17 cm wide
7 cm depth
11 cm tall
 
 
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Sowerby (Ellison Glass Works, Gateshead, founded 1852) was a major English producer of pressed glass, embracing Art Deco in the 1930s with geometric, angular, and stylized designs. Known for "art glass for the millions," Sowerby produced colorful, high-quality pressed wares, including iconic carnival glass, before closing in 1972.
Key Aspects of Sowerby Art Deco Glass:
Design Characteristics: During the 1930s, Sowerby adopted Art Deco styling, characterized by geometric shapes, streamlined, angular, and, in some cases, "space-age" or "atomic" forms.
Production Techniques: Thefirm was a leader in pressed glass, utilizing specialized, high-volume techniques to create affordable decorative items.
Range of Products: Key items included vases, bowls, and figural items, with some designs continuing into the 1950s.
Materials & Colors: Sowerby was renowned for using vibrant, colored glass, including their famous Vitro-porcelain (from 1877) and iridescent carnival glass (from the 1920s), which bridged into the Art Deco era.
Identification: Many pieces feature the peacock trademark on the base, although not all items were marked.
Historical Timeline:1852: John Sowerby establishes the Ellison Glass Works in Gateshead.
1870s-1880s: Famous for Victorian pressed glass and "Vitro-porcelain".
1920s: Introduction of iridescent Carnival glass.
1930s: Peak of Art Deco production.
1957: Bought by Suntex Safety Glass Industries.
1972: Production of domestic glass ceased.
 
 
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Art Deco is a glamorous, decorative style in architecture, design, and art that flourished globally in the 1920s and 1930s, symbolizing modernity, luxury, and progress with its sleek geometric shapes, bold colors, and rich materials like chrome, lacquer, and exotic woods, appearing in everything from skyscrapers and cinemas to jewelry and furniture. Named after the 1925 Paris exhibition, it combines machine-age streamlining with opulent ornamentation, drawing inspiration from Cubism, Futurism, and ancient art.
Key Characteristics
Geometric Forms: Sharp angles, zigzags, chevrons, sunbursts, and stylized, symmetrical patterns.
Streamlined Look: Smooth curves and strong vertical lines, evoking speed and machines.
Rich Materials: Use of expensive, modern, and exotic materials like chrome, steel, glass, ivory, jade, lacquer, and polished woods.
Bold Colors & Contrast: High-contrast palettes, jewel tones (ruby, emerald), black, white, and metallic accents (gold, silver).
Opulence: A sense of glamour, wealth, and sophistication, contrasting with Art Nouveau's naturalism.
Influences & Inspirations
Modernity: The machine age, aviation, ocean liners, and technology.
Art Movements: Cubism, Futurism, Vienna Secession, and De Stijl.
Exoticism: Motifs from ancient Egypt (especially after Tutankhamun's tomb discovery), Africa, and Asia.
Applications
Architecture: Skyscrapers (Chrysler Building), cinemas, ocean liners, train stations, and theaters.
Decorative Arts: Furniture, jewelry, textiles, ceramics, and lighting.
Everyday Objects: Radios, vacuum cleaners, cars, and advertising.
Legacy
A globally influential style that celebrated optimism between the World Wars, giving way to more restrained Modernism after WWII but experiencing revivals.