Topic: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?

[Bernard C]

Jo — that is very useful.

Although my German is non-existent, it is quite clear that this material states that the piece is not by Walther.

I am somewhat bemused by this statement.    I would be quite happy to accept that it does not appear in their surviving company archives and trade catalogues, and that therefore it is unlikely (but not impossible) to have been made and marketed by Walther.   That is quite fair.   Making the leap to not being made by Walther seems to me illogical and unjustified without some other evidence.

I don't know of any major glassworks where we have perfect knowledge of what they did or didn't make.

Bernard C.  

[Glen]

Yes, that's the bowl! But we're no further forward are we? I agree with Bernard totally that it is not possible to say with certainty that the item was not made by Walther. The only correct deduction is that, based on material currently available, we cannot state with certainty that the item was made by Walther. And here's another fly to stir into the ointment........

There are items that appear in manufacturers' catalogues that were not necessarily made by that maker. They might be copies, they might have been simply wholesaled and sold on. Just finding a catalogue entry isn't proof absolute in 100% of cases.

[Bernard C]

Glen, et al,

I was disappointed by this statement in the prestigous and influential Pressglas-Korrespondenz website, where one hesitates before making any criticism.    I thought the old days of treating trade catalogues as complete inventories had disappeared a decade or more ago, and can only surmise that this statement must have been written some time ago.

It needs considered review and possible amendment.

I am not in touch with the proprietor(s) of Pressglas-Korrespondenz.   Please would someone either let me know how to make contact, or pass on this material.

Bernard C.