Topic: Quality Deep cut 19th C Vase with Iris pattern Stourbridge Moser?

[Andy]

Ive been to see my Auntie today, took photos of a couple of old family pieces which id
promised to do for ages. Both been in my family for years, there are rumours of a few relatives
working in Glass and Metal industries in the Midlands in the 19th C, not sure whether this first
piece is English, i think it looks a bit Moser like, its a quality piece of glass, flat polished base, a lot
of wear, deep cutting, my auntie says the flowers are Iris's. Thick and there is a slight browny tinge,
i suppose thats the Lead .
I predict someone may recogonise this one.   Its about 6" tall, 8" wide, 4 sided.

Andy

[Lustrousstone]

Nice piece  Does your auntie smoke?

[Andy]

Non smoker, but my Grandparents did, I do remember last year we gave it a good wash,
but still got the yellowy tinge, i think it shows more in photos than real life.
Andy

[Lustrousstone]

It's probably just the glass then, it just seemed very yellow from here.

[Max]

Very nice!  Harrach maybe?   

[Andy]

Thanks Max,
just went to great-glass.co.uk, to look for some Harrach, and saw this page on Moser,
http://www.great-glass.co.uk/library/lib1ba.htm
The Intaglio cut Moser perfume bottles are quite similar (2nd row down)
and googling intaglio, (deep cutting or carving) found this page,
http://www.manddmoir.co.uk/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/moir?opendocument&part=8

I have a hunch its going to be Moser/ Bohemian ,id love it to be a Stourbridge connection 

regards Andy

[Mike M]

Hi

you're right about it being Moser or Harrach  -sorry there were no colourless examples on my website

Separating Moser from Harrach without a colour is really hard, but the piece has a number of folded over leaves -technically very hard to cut. I've always believed these foldovers were Moser only so lets say 95%+ sure Moser.

PS keep an eye out for Antiques Magazine 9th February issue -with luck there will be some better explanations and pictures there....

cheers

Mike

[Andy]

Hi Mike,
thanks so much for your help, in your opinion ,would i be right in saying late 19th C, and do
you think the browny tinge is from the high lead content? I notice the clear part on the coloured
vases do not appear to have the same tinge, or may sunlight or other influences have affected it
over the years?
Regards
Andy

[Lustrousstone]

Don't think so, more like 1903 ish. From Moser 1857-1997, Jan Mergl and Lenka Pankova page 57. "In 1903, the Moser repertoire of shapes of engraved vases was enriched by the addition of a new, inventive and impressive element. In the series of vases starting with production number 7661, the edge of the vessel is cut into the shapes of flower blooms, which appear to extend beyond the body of the vessel." There is an iris vase pictured but it's round. There also appears to be a trapezoidal vase, but I don't think it's irises - hard to tell from catalogue repro.

This absolutely fabulous book was £31 delivered from Moser, not bad for a large 350-page paperback in English.

[Mike M]

On dates etc Christine is 100% spot on -nothing  much to add there - Except I believe this style was large over by 1910 and usually later ones are signed -so a date 1903-1908ish - 100 years old!

As to colour - no way! Moser were famed for almost lead free glass (the original eco-friendly glass) -so brownish tinge is more likely to be because of low lead content -  high lead would give a blueish tint -assumimg of course  it is not stubborn nicotine!

cheers

Mike