Featured Hello! I have questions about a glass piece...

Long time no chat ! Hope everyone is well.
This shallow dish is 7 3/8 x 7 3/8 inches, standing 1 1/2 inches tall, almost 1/4 inch thick at the edge and I'm sure all that farther in.
No identifying marks.
The underside has both smooth and textured areas.
The upper surface is uniformly smooth but one can feel a few, very slight irregularities, where the surface ever-so-slightly dips or rises.
It reminded me at first of those mosaic ashtrays !

Is this what's called "fused glass"?
Do you think it is studio glass?
Could it have been mass produced?
Do you think it is mid-century or modern or something else?
The last photo it's held up to a light. Ignore my squiggle please on the second to last.

 

Can't answer any of your questions, Tom, but those are great pictures! Love it.

 

I sure can't answer your questions either.....but I hope someone can!!!! That LAST image is FASCINATING!!!!! It somehow gives an idea of the application....even tho I can't figure it out!!!! GREAT images!!!!!

 

I think the colored portions are fused, glass sort of set on the main piece then heated until they melt enough to blend a bit. The shape of the bowl I think can be made by setting a main glass piece on a mold and heating enough to melt it to the mold shape, I think usually called slumped.

Now I'm not a glass person so someone else may think (wisely and better informed) differently. My sister is a glass artist so I should know far more than I do.

 

I found it difficult to capture the translucence of the coloured pieces.
On the underside you see them enclosed within the matrix of white glass, yet on the upper surface they look inset, BUT the feel is of a contiguous surface.
Upper surface
under surface
under surface

 

Looks a lot like an old Higgins glass ashtray to me.

 

Interesting! I looked them up - I read an article that indicated Higgins pieces were always identified. I've been over my piece with a magnifier but couldn't find a mark of any sort.
(I was really surprised to find nothing.)

 

At one time there were a lot of places where the home crafts person could go and make these. The shop provided the materials , molds and kilns. This looks like one of the better ones to me.

 

I'm with George on that, hobby product. Nice job.

 

DIY studios for glass???
Never seen or heard of one. Which doesn't mean much.
Wish I had - that would have been really fun !

 

MAGWV has one.

 

Thanks everybody !