"Silver Overlay" American Art Glass

An attractive American Art Deco glass vase, circa 1925–1935, produced in rich deep cobalt-blue glass. The elegant body rises from a rounded base to broad shoulders and a dramatically flared rim, creating a strong and stylish silhouette. Encircling the upper body is a finely applied silver overlay frieze decorated with stylised trailing vines, leaves and clusters of grapes. The brilliant silver contrasts beautifully with the intense blue glass, creating a sophisticated decorative piece characteristic of the Art Deco period.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Height:                                    27 cm

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Diam:                                      15 cm

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Condition:                               Excellent Condition

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Circa:                                       1910

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Materials:                                Art Glass and Silver

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SKU:                                        6516

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ABOUT

American **silver overlay glass** enjoyed considerable popularity during the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 1930s, combining richly coloured decorative glass with the brilliance and refinement of applied silver. The technique involved depositing a layer of silver onto the surface of the finished glass vessel, after which areas were carefully removed to create elaborate decorative patterns.

American manufacturers produced silver overlay decoration on vases, bowls, decanters and perfume bottles, often using intensely coloured glass in **cobalt blue, ruby red, emerald green and amethyst**. Against these strong colours, the polished silver created a particularly striking contrast.

Decoration ranged from traditional floral and foliate motifs to the increasingly **stylised, geometric patterns associated with Art Deco design**. Grapevines, flowers, scrolling foliage and repeating borders were particularly popular, often simplified to complement the clean lines of the glass form.

Silver overlay glass required considerable skill, as the decoration needed to follow the contours of the vessel while remaining crisp and balanced. Today, good examples are appreciated both for their decorative appeal and for the combination of two distinct crafts: American glassmaking and specialist silver decoration. Pieces retaining strong colour, undamaged glass and well-preserved silver overlay are particularly desirable to collectors.