How do I clean an enamelled glass vase?

Dust the surface gently with a soft dry cloth to protect the raised enamel and gilding from abrasion. Avoid submerging pieces in water, particularly those with gold leaf or delicate painted details that might loosen.

Are these pieces purely decorative?

Most items function primarily as decorative display objects, garniture sets, or table lamps. Their delicate enamelwork and specialised glass forms mean they are unsuited for heavy daily utility.

How can I tell a Victorian piece from an Art Deco one?

Victorian examples often feature Mary Gregory style figures, opaque white painting, and rich cranberry or green glass bodies. Art Deco items typically display geometric patterns, etched lines, and the characteristic forms of the nineteen-thirties.

What is Mary Gregory glass?

It is glass decorated with white enamel silhouettes, usually depicting children in natural Victorian settings. Pieces bearing this attribution span from the mid-nineteenth century into the early twentieth century.