Unmarked | Hand-Cut Lead Crystal Bowl | Geometric & Starburst Cutting | c.1950s–1970s

A bowl worked this thoroughly has no plain surface left to rest on — every angle is active, all the time.

The tradition of deeply cut lead crystal reached its domestic peak in the mid-twentieth century, when British, Irish, and Bohemian glasshouses were producing heavily worked pieces for the household and gift markets. Multiple cutting registers on a single form — geometric fills, starburst motifs, fan cuts, and fine hobnail fields — represent a considerable investment of cutting time. Lead crystal, with its high refractive index and weight, rewards this treatment in a way ordinary glass cannot; the facets hold sharp edges, and light plays across the surface in a lively, almost kinetic manner.

This bowl is broad and low, with a gently domed profile and flat base ring. The inner well is cut overall with a fine hobnail-and-star field filling the central panel completely. The surrounding shoulder is divided into alternating registers of large starburst motifs, fan cuts, and foliate blade cuts, each panel separated by fine mitre lines defining the geometry clearly. The outer wall carries a further register of starburst and fan cutting, continuing the pattern across the full visible surface. The rim is finished with a delicate file-cut edge. Viewed from above, the bowl presents a densely resolved geometric composition, with no unworked areas, creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow across its form.

The bowl is in excellent condition. There are no chips, cracks, or repairs. The cutting is crisp throughout, and the glass is clear and free of cloudiness or interior residue.

Key Details

•  Maker: Unmarked
•  Material: Hand-cut lead crystal
•  Cutting: Hobnail-and-star centre field; starburst, fan, and foliate blade cuts to shoulder and outer wall; file-cut rim
•  Period: c.1950s–1970s
•  Diameter: 23.5 cm
•  Height: 6.7 cm
•  Condition: Excellent — no chips, cracks, or repairs; cutting crisp throughout

Collector Appeal

A perfect example of mid-century decorative lead crystal, this bowl is suited to collectors of finely cut glass or interiors that celebrate historic craftsmanship and sculptural forms. Its dynamic geometric and starburst cutting ensures that it remains as striking in display as it is functional.

Lead crystal does not age in the way most objects do — the edges remain sharp, the light remains lively, and the only thing that changes is how long it has been catching it.