Antique hunting...with Roo Irvine

Those of us with an interest in antiques have all heard of the names Monart, Vasart and Strathearn - three distinct but related types of celebrated Scottish glassware.

I admit that in my early days I was puzzled as to the similarity of these styles, finding it difficult to discern between them, until I learned the story behind the story.

For more than 150 years the name of John Moncrieff Ltd has been associated with Scottish glassware. But in 1924 a young Barcelona-born glassblower called Salvador Ysart was working at the factory in Perthshire when he inadvertently created a ‘prototype’ which caught the eye of owner Isobel Moncrieff.

She was so impressed she encouraged the young man to produce a range of ‘art glass’ vases, scent bottles, paperweights and even lampshades in his own distinctive style which the company called Monart, a blending of the names Moncrieff and Ysart.

Very much in the Art Nouveau style of Emile Galle these ethereal pieces were hugely successful up until the Second World War when production was halted for the duration.

When hostilities ended in 1945 Moncrieff was reluctant to revive their art glass production line so Ysart set up Vasart Glass with his two sons, Vincent and Augustine.

Following the deaths of Salvador and Augustine in 1955 and 1956 respectively Vincent, as the sole remaining partner, sold the company in 1965 to Teachers Whisky who changed the name from Vasart to Strathearn. Some 15 years later Strathearn was acquired by Stuart glass in 1980 and the range was rebranded as Stuart Strathearn until production fully ceased in 1992.

Despite all the changes the style of all three brands is incredibly similar and instantly recognisable due to the swirling sandstorm of colours ranging from soft pastel to vibrant emerald greens.

At the peak of Monart’s success in the 1930’s it was Scotland’s answer to the exquisite French art glass movement and it adorned the most luxurious environments from London to New York, sparking a range of similar styles from other manufacturers.

For collectors of today identifying a genuine Monart, Vasart or Strathearn glass can be tricky. Most pre-war pieces had paper labels attached whereas post-war pieces would have an acid etched signature. Failing the existence of a mark or label, the shape, base type and colour can help identify a piece as Monart and Vasart varied in their trademark shapes. Monart pieces feature three layers of glass, and are often deeper and richer in colour. In terms of value Monart pieces are certainly more valuable than Vasart.