Inkwell Canes

All canes are listed within the Inkwell in which they appear but numbering is sequential within the whole page. There are several matches to canes in the set known to have been owned by Vincent Ysart and these are listed as sub-categories. Also shown as sub-categories are possible Strathearn canes. Matches to canes in my other articles are also annotated.

Cane 02 also occurs as number 34 in the "Mixed Concentric" weight. Cane 04 is probably a match to number 50 in the "Likely Salvador Closepack" but in the version shown here, there is a definite pink tint that does not show in the other one.

(Several canes of this Inkwell are marred by the amount of bubbling in the clear glass.)

This cane appears in the centre of the base of the Inkwell and can only be viewed through the neck. It is identical to cane 17 below, but the colouring has been affected by the lighting for the photography and the blue of the body of the Inkwell.

Cane 13 is also seen as number 28 in the "Likely Salvador Closepack" weight.

(Many of the canes for this item show a pink tint in areas that are probably white. In the main this occurs for canes in the central part of the body of the Inkwell where they are affected by the pink colouring of the neck and well portions.)

The pink centre of cane 17 is the colour of the stopper showing through; the cane also appears in the main body where the centre appears green. The cane as shown here is the actual colour whereas in cane 05 above it has an overall purple tint. An interesting point is that under longwave UV, the clear centre of this cane, as set in the stopper, is the only part that shows as green. This is a good piece of evidence for the differing clear glass batches and is likely to be noted in other "problem" items which have an early cane with a substantial clear part.

Cane 18 is included as a match to the Vincent set, but may not be an exact match. Cane 48 below, with the distinct yellow central section is a true match.

Canes 22 and 23 are also matched to numbers 03 and 08 in the "Likely Salvador Closepack" weight.

Cane 29 is a type that is known in many Strathearn weights but as far as I am aware, does not appear in Vasart items. My general feeling for the other canes is that the quality of parts of the canes or the colouring, where pastel blue and white are a main feature, mark this as Strathearn production. But I may be incorrect in all of these assumptions! The distortions of canes 26 and 27 certainly do not help with the analysis.

The twist cane 47 may not be a true early "Vasart (or Monart)" cane. It has distinctive yellow and grey colouring and is seen in other "Unknown Maker" items. For an example, refer to page 166 of the book Scottish Paperweights.

Canes 52, 53 and 54 are obviously of the same type but they differ in the use or ordering of the individual elements. In each case the individual 'rods' are set in clear glass but the purple-blue of the stopper colouring shows through as the dominant feature.

Twist cane 55 may not be a true early "Vasart (or Monart)" cane. It has an aventurine central part, formed as a series of 'nodules' (somewhat similar to a string of beads). I do not know if this is significant for identification.