Topic: Art deco style amber and satinated pressed crystal with label?

[astrid]

I recently bought this vase because it looked nice and it had a label saying 'echt bleikristall gepresst' (meaning: real lead crystal pressed), which sort of puts it in the German language area. However, I have no idea of its age, and where exactly to put it. I even wonder whether it could be Bohemian, as I recall part of that area was originally more German language oriented than Czech.

Measurements: 21.5 cm high, 9.5 cm across at the rim and 8 cm across at the base. Apart from the paper label it is unmarked, but a nice heavy quality.

Two questions:

1. Does anyone recognize this particular label in age and/or area?
2. Does anyone know or would like to guess anything more about its factory (or perhaps even designer?)

[dirk.]

Hi Astrid,
I think your vase is german, but unfortunately that´s where my memory ends.
So far I´ve only seen two similar vases, both flashed yellow. If I remember
correctly, they had the label of a hessian glassworks.
Sorry, the name simply won´t come to my mind. It wasn´t Hessen-Glas, but...   :thud:
Datewise I would guess 60´s.
Cheers,
Dirk

[astrid]

Thanks Dirk, that's actually good news. I wasn't sure of the time period. I just bought it on instinct. German postwar glass with a bit of a modern design has somehow become my secondary collectible area after Czech glass, so this one fits - but I'm having a difficult time getting the hang of the different glashütte involved, so if you (or anyone else) can direct me to some good resources for postwar german glass, I'd be very grateful.

[dirk.]

I assume you´ve got Ivo´s book as a start? It covers the basic data of many
german glassworks.
If you´re looking for pictures, this seller (Kilian) has got a wide range of german glass:
http://www.glaskilian.de/Deutschland.97.0.html
Pamela´s got a few post war catalogues on her site, too:
http://www.glas-musterbuch.de/
This website about glass industry in the hessian region of Oberursel is quite good:
http://www.kristallglas-oberursel.net/Text/Glasindustrie_Oberursel.htm
Only few glassworks are covered in publucations, but that seems to be the exception as
many people don´t seem to be interested in the serial output of german post war
glass. There´s still a lot to explore. You´ll rather find books about designers like
Wagenfeld, Löffelhardt, Habermeier, Wiedmann or studio glass artists.
Personally I´m much looking forward to the book on Gralglas, which will be released this
autumn. Hope this helps a bit?
Cheers,
Dirk

[astrid]

Thanks Dirk, it surely helps. It feels to me as if there is too little appreciation yet for the midcentury modern design in German glass as a collector's area, even in Germany itself, which is a shame. To me, it has a style and a feel of its own and I hope it will be recognized more in the future. I'll console myself with the thought that while reference is difficult, prices will be modest for a while longer . I better pick up a few good pieces while I still have a decent chance...

[dirk.]

I´m thinking along the same lines actually and have stopped selling any of my fleamarket finds. 
Some of my sales were really disappointing and I regretted them afterwards, e.g. the Peill & Putzler
Schleiergraphit vase, which went for 1,50-€ ----- there were further pieces... :sigh:

[astrid]

I'm currently paying between 10 and 15 euros for most German vases (unmarked ones and solifleurs), which is still affordable enough for me for impulse buys and apparently enough for the Dutch sellers who hunt them down in Germany to make it worth their while. I hope to find some myself when I travel to Germany in a few weeks, but I'll be quite limited on my hunting expedition by the company non-glass lovers who frown at the idea of spending their valuable time at any sort of flea or antique market...