Mercury Glass Grapes 1960s (UK Classic)

The mercury-glass bunch of grapes (occasionally listed as berries) is a very old design, dating back to the early nineteen hundreds. Most of those surviving today in the UK are 1960s. I can certainly remember a silver and another in crimson which my family had during that decade. 

I recently acquired two, one in gold, and another in crimson. They typically sell for about £4 plus postage. Always with a white-metal cap, they are 5cms high excluding the hanging ring. 

And here is an example of a pale blue version recently selling on eBay. I am now aware of other colours, and a range which has more of a gloss paint finish, rather than the metallic look, and it's not a restoration.

MGB

Mercury Glass Walnut 1960s (UK retail)

This is a recent acquisition and was totally new to me. It came as part of a larger vintage purchase. I believe it dates back to the 1960s and is not a recent East European import.  The metallic bronze colour is used to represent nut brown. It certainly makes it unusual. The size is 5cms high, excluding the hanging ring, with a 3.5 cms diameter. This is the only mercury-glass Walnut I have seen.

MGB

Mercury Glass Bells 1960s (Smaller UK version)

I picked this one up in 2021 for 25p in a charity shop, and it clearly dates back to the 1960s, or possibly the 1950s. It is the same as the 'Classic' bell but in a smaller scale, 5cms high excluding the hanging ring, with a diameter of 4cms. And it has a working metal chime just like the larger counterpart.

MGB

Mercury Glass Bells 1960s (UK Classic)

I can still remember placing several of this type on Christmas trees during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The originals have long since broken or been thrown away but I was able to acquire a very fine example from a charity shop during the 2010s, paying £3.50. In December 2023 my collection increased with an eBay purchase of five more. A little more worn, I was pleased to purchase them for the price of £15.50, delivered. 

For the British 1960s market these were the 'classic' in mercury glass bells. Is it possible that some date back to the 1950s? They all have white metal caps, a working metal chime, and what looks like a double ring for hanging. The moulded bell always has an impression of the chime underneath. The height is 7cms excluding the ring, and the base diameter is 5cms.

Now I really do not know if these were actually manufactured in the UK, but I'm going to rule out an East European production at this period, but they could still be West German. And that would explain the exact metric measurements.

The metallic colours are really splendid. At least two ranges are confirmed by the variation in the white metal caps. Most are simply round, but others have a scalloped edge.

Starting off with my first acquisition, and a perfect example.

And here are my additional five. I have taken the liberty of applying a weak coat of white acrylic to the snow effect on two of the bells. The original condition had a grubby grit-like appearance which distracted the eye from the bright mercury-glass. I know collectors should refrain from repainting but this really was necessary, and the result matches better examples.

MGB