The following plates give some idea of the beautiful pieces of glass
which have left Ireland, but there are magnificent specimens still
there, which will probably never be placed on the market--pieces as
poetic in design as their owners are in mind; pieces that will live for
the sons and heirs to love and cherish with the many other treasures
of Ireland's finest periods, long after Sinn Feiners have ceased their
endeavours to destroy all that is best and loveliest in the old country.
At the time of writing this, I find an enormous amount of spurious
"Irish" glass on the market, and I take this opportunity of warning all
collectors and dealers (many of whom are my friends) to be exceedingly
careful. It is essential that all lovers of Irish glass should keep
their collections pure, and some of these fakes are so clever that
dealers will have to exercise the greatest vigilance and care if they
are to avoid the ignominy of having pieces which they have sold in good
faith returned to them as "wrong." At the present time, all the best
known dealers in Irish glass are trusted by their customers, and their
advice is taken without question. It is in the best interests of their
great profession that this sense of confidence should remain.
In conclusion, I should like to add that I hope this book--written, as
it is, at the request of many lovers of Irish glass--may be a real help
to the novice, and assist him to distinguish between the "true" piece
and the forgery.
[Illustration: STAR FROM A CHANDELIER.]
[Illustration:
THE STANNUS CREST, ENGRAVED ON A WATERFORD BOWL, 1790.
(_See Plate XVI._)]