View Full Version : How would we get this valued?
A fox's glacier mints polar bear statuette
(http://dresch.co.uk/bear/)
I'm not 100% sure of the story behind this item, but my dad was given it many, many years ago, we suspect it's about 50 years old at least.
Apparently when the Foxs mints company was founded, the directors at the time, were each given one of these statues.
There's no markings at all on it (which doesn't help, heh), but it was taken to an antiques road show about 20 years ago and my dad was told it looked like a Lalique piece, but they apparently always sign their work, so I'm not even sure where, or who to ask.
Any thoughts?
Tyneside Glassware Series
The introduction of Carnival glass between 1926 to 1930 helped their fortunes as did the appointment of a new designer. Herr Schottner created the Tyneside Glassware Series, and was responsible for the sitting nude lady flower block and bowl which was used by Cadburys for their chocolates. They also produced the polar bear (after buying Joblings' mould) for Fox's glacier mints.
I don't know if this will help in your research
http://www.pressedintime.com/sowerby.htm
Hmm, that might be it, that would explain the lack of marking on the bear, heh
Thanks very much.
here you go Adam
this is a valuation from 2 years back i found
http://www.catalogue-host.co.uk/mctears/2009-01-24/lot_389?prev_page=browse%20catalogue%2c%20page%208 %20of%2012&prev_url=%2fmctears%2f2009-01-24%2fpage_8
Heh wow, how the heck did you find that?
Thanks again, that's a great help, although I wish I knew why ours doesn't have any markings, heh
Heh wow, how the heck did you find that?
Thanks again, that's a great help, although I wish I knew why ours doesn't have any markings, heh
That would go back to the first link i gave you ,Sowerby Glass bought the mould from joblings so they would have to remove the joblings name after production and obviously didn't think it worth engraving their own ,so i would say your's is from Sowerby glass as opposed to joblings,The date of yours could be from the 1950's ,does that sound about right ?
---------- Post added at 21:18 ---------- Previous post was at 21:17 ----------
incidentally the bears official name is Peppy :D
LOL Peppy.
Yea I believe that's correct, I'll ask my dad again, I believe it was from the 1940's to 1950's.
Interesting though, I found another Joblings Opalique creature, both that and the one you linked, have a shiny/glossy type glass texture, this one doesn't have that, it's frosted.
Another Jobling's here @ £400
http://www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk/Print/Lot?LotID=152540
Nice, it's the same model alright, but I wonder if the one I have is frosted because it was made for the fox's mints company? hmm
Another Jobling's here @ £400
http://www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk/Print/Lot?LotID=152540
It would be fantastic if Adam had the Joblings name on it ,unfortunately he said it hasn't which is a shame
Wondering if it was specially made for Fox's, so the name wasn't added, no idea, heh.
Nice, it's the same model alright, but I wonder if the one I have is frosted because it was made for the fox's mints company? hmm
I'm more inclined to think that it is the difference in the manufacture as everything i have read so far suggests they were all made for foxes as advertising pieces ,made first by joblings in sunderland then sowerby glass in gateshead
*The original bear trademark was designed by Clarence Reginald Dalby in the early part of the the 1900's ,he was responsible for Thomas the tank engine illustrations as well *
*I'm bored waiting for the wife to get in from work :D
LOL, quite possibly, yea.
Had a really nice lady from pressedintime.com reply to my email about the bear, she gave me this information.
Hi Adam
Good news! I can help you, your Dad’s polar bear was made by Jobling in their Opalique colour. They are also available in clear, black, green, brown and blue. The design was registered on 23.1.1935 with the registration number 10730 (this might be on the bottom of the base, on the other hand, it could be that this was one of the early designs and not registered)
I have attached a copy of the advert in their 1937 supplement which shows both the bear and the bookend bear.
As an aside, Jobling did take a lot of inspiration from Lalique and even approached them asking if they could make their UK orders in their factories (probably to get their hands on the exact recipe for the glass!)
They are quite rare, especially in perfect condition (make sure the ears and corners are intact), however the market for pressed glass is quite depressed, so I wouldn’t advise selling it at the moment.
Had a really nice lady from pressedintime.com reply to my email about the bear, she gave me this information.
That's good news then ,so i take it that the fact that it has no markings could mean it's one of the earlier ones
Seems like it, yea, I know the guy from the antiques road show went over it with one of those eye/magnifying glass things and couldn't find anything.
Shame though, cause the bear's ear has a bit missing, plus the base isn't in great shape either, doh.
Interesting to see it could be late 1930's in terms of age though, wow.
Same age as your avatar it seems.
Where did you get the avatar? I think it's really cool. (I'm a sucker for Art Deco and Art Nouveau).
That's good news then ,so i take it that the fact that it has no markings could mean it's one of the earlier ones
Sounds likely. I don't know much about Sowerby & their markings. I collect Davidson cloud glass but have very limited knowledge of other makers.
Same age as your avatar it seems.
Where did you get the avatar? I think it's really cool. (I'm a sucker for Art Deco and Art Nouveau).
Mine? it's from Star trek the next generation
It was a Borg logo from one of the episodes, heh.
Mine? it's from Star trek the next generation
It was a Borg logo from one of the episodes, heh.
Doh! It's a fine example of Art Nouveau though. Charles Rennie Mackintosh would have been proud of it.
Mine? it's from Star trek the next generation
It was a Borg logo from one of the episodes, heh.
designed by Rick Sternbach
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borg_(Star_Trek)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Sternbach
Does anyone think Rick wasn't inspired by some of this (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=1418&bih=743&site=search&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=%22art+nouveau%22+glassware&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=)?
Some stunning stuff there. I absolutely love it. Most of it is a *lot* pricier than that polar bear though :(
passing-by
25-01-2012, 15:18
Hello
I have been searching for info about my polar bear, I believe has Fox's origins. I thought from your description may have been the same . I have registered so I may see the pictures but they are a near miss. My bear has separate legs and a pointier face . Would be grateful for any ideas.
Thanks
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