This a long story so I hope you are sitting comfortably.
A couple of years ago I bought a copy of Smoke & Ice, a book on Scandinavian glass. While browsing through the photos I noticed (on page 73) a design by Bengt Edenfalk for Skruf of a bowl which resembles the cross section of a tree trunk. As well as a passion for glass I have long had an interest in wood, having worked with furniture and done a fair amount of antique restoration. Although it is not a great photo I thought the bowl looked very interesting and that I would like to get my sticky little paws on one.
The years passed.... Well one or two probably and towards the end of September 2009 I received an email from ebay. An item it seems matched 'my favourite' search, it turned out to be one of the aforementioned bowls for sale in a buy it now or make an offer listing. Oh goody I thought, "oh my word" when I noticed the asking price of just twenty five Pounds, the book quotes two to three
hundred US dollars (150-200 Pounds depending on exchange rate). I will make an offer I though, then it occurred to me it was bl**dy cheap and while I was making an offer someone else would buy it. The seller did not have the best feedback record but I bought it anyway. I paid straight away and waited for it to arrive.
After two weeks I emailed the seller to check that it had been posted, the seller claimed to have posted it a few days before my email arrived. So I waited some more and then a little longer. After two weeks I checked at my local sorting office in case it was lurking there. It wasn't. And again after another week, still no joy. I emailed the seller and received no reply whatsoever. This was now around the time that the postal strike was gaining momentum here in Britain, so I waited a little longer (but not much this time). Eventually, after further silence from the seller I gave up and pursued a claim against the seller with paypal which was successful and eventually I was refunded.
At the beginning of this week I received another email from ebay telling me of another Edenfalk item for sale. Well knock me down with a feather it was another of the bowls I was after. Call me paranoid but the new seller was located in the same county as the other one, I thought it must be the same bowl. This 'new' seller had a worse feedback record than the 'original' seller but I thought "what the hell" if it doesn't arrive I will get my money back (again). The price this time was forty Pounds, still a bargain as far as I was concerned so I bought it. I thought, if it arrives great but I will not be surprised if this goes pear shaped too.
Well it arrived today, it is wonderful and I am a very happy bunny.
Here are a couple of photos of the bowl:
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-12183http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-12182Out of interest, the photo of the bowl in the book shows the bowl mounted on a crappy little wooden stand which looks to me to be home made. Does anyone know if they were originally sold like this or am I barking up the wrong tree? :D
John
