Topic: Figurines in Crystal by Mary van Pelt

[Sklounion]

Hi,
Does anyone have a view, on the reliability of identifications in the above book?
Thanks and regards,
Marcus

[Frank]

The 'Foreign' attributions relied heavily on  Raymond Chambon, Belgium. But also correspondence with companies via a translator. A lot of the images are poor quality and sourced from catalogues. She had your Glassblower ashtray attributed to Prof Drahonovsky. The Forejtová figure is shown and described as "The nude flower frog and stauette" and illustrated once as a statuette and once complete with bowl, only attribution is Czech 1965.

A swan by Zlatno circa 1947-49 designed and executed by Director Vitamva. She used CGR as a source. Libochovice figures made from moulds first produced in 1937-39 and again 1945-7. Moulds then worn out and discarded.

Overall impression is of first class research.

I intend to reuse a lot of her material in the Glass Zoo as her terms of reuse allow this but I would like to get in touch with her too!

[Sklounion]

Hi Frank,
I am a little concerned for the following reasons:
Drahanovsky is not known for designing figures for pressed glass companies. Few Czech experts seem to have drawn any connection, and had Professor Drahanovsky been responsible, (he was, after all, one of the giants in Czechoslovakian glass design at that time, and much studied,) experts at Desna and Jablonec would have no hesitation in making such an identification. None so far, have suggested him as a possible.
The styling of the polar bears, (image by email now) is known to be by a sculptor, well-recorded for his designs for Libochovice for 1920s-30s period.
It would appear that Karel Zentner, was virtually, if not in fact, the in-house designer for Libochovice in the inter-war years.
Allegedly, the glass-blower moulds were used as late as 1959, reportedly by the source under discussion. As it is known that it appeared with the Glassexport logo applied to the base, this suggests use after 1948.
Chambon was first curator at the Musee de Verre at Charleroi.
Regards,
Marcus

[Frank]

Following a more thorough discussion... second rate research... although it raises questions. Due to the terms of copyright the whole book can go into the Glass Study where it can be annotated.

[Sklounion]

For those who are not aware of Drahonovsky:
http://www.scartists.com/vandam2/

http://www.glyptika.cz/hlavni.htm
First is in Czech but use the zde live links on the home page, or the left hand side keys. When you see the title Plakaty, click the link for some exquisite engraving.
Second site is in English.
Regards,
Marcus

[Lustrousstone]

 :clap: :clap: Not many size 0 among those lovelies 

[Sklounion]

Oops, links are the wrong way round..............
Ho hum.
Still, lovely items, Christine.
Regards,
Marcus

[Lustrousstone]

They are beautiful. I looked at all the bits in the Czech lang. link. My favourite was the ladies taking tea

[Sue C]

Marcus they are stunning! makes all the the thing's i collect look like dustbin fodder.