Topic: Ditchfield Frog is this signed

[Cazza]

Can anyone tell me is this a ditchfield signature on the base, it has quite a few scratches so is hard to make out.
thank you

[chopin-liszt]

I can't expand your image to see it, but I would very much doubt it.
His writing is neat and rounded, each letter clearly formed and legible. He doesn't tend to sign paperweights - just unique pieces, although how things are marked did change over the years.
Have a read of his website!

http://www.glasform.com/

[Cazza]

Thank you will have a read

[Tony G]

Hi Cazza,
               the frog looks right but the scratchings on the base look all wrong. A few things to consider:-

1) Signed "J. Ditchfield", numbered and Glasform on base means John designed and made the piece.
2) Signed and Glasform means John designed the piece but it was made by one of his colleagues.
3) Glasform alone means it was designed by a Glasform colleague and made by a colleague.
4) NO GLASFORM either means pre-1982 at another works or NOT John's.

Since this sort of frog design was not made before Glasform, then if no Glasform on base, it is possible that it is a similar design by someone else. Please note, that without attributing any blame or responsibility, John did have an employee leave and start making "similar designs".

Hope this helps,

Tony

[chopin-liszt]

Thanks, Tony, but would you please clarify for me what you mean by condition 2)?

"2) Signed and Glasform means John designed the piece but it was made by one of his colleagues."

What is meant by the word "signed"? does that mean "J. Ditchfield" is written on it? or simply "Ditchfield"? and who would have written it?
Confusion can arise when folk use the word "signed" (which means the artist's personal signature) when what they are referring to is a piece which is marked - the name of the designer or studio written on the piece by somebody who works there.

[Cazza]

Hi thank you for your input, there is a label which is a bit torn but is definitely the Ditchfield one it has Glass ?? English on it i am sure its a ditchfield label there is also a number which i cannot read either as that is also partially torn. Perhaps an earlier frog then? I can only seem to find the ones that are a teal sort of colour this one is blue iridescent not sure where i can find out when it was made.
Cazza




 

[chopin-liszt]

This is an image of the base of a "unique" piece - designed and made by John, signed, numbered and marked.

[glassobsessed]

Contact Glasform, they will be able to tell if it is theirs or not. Email address lower down the page here: http://www.glasform.com/contact.html

John

[Cazza]

Hi John
Have resent the email to the website, the first bounced back, no idea why, I cannot click a link to email as it goes to outlook express and i do not use it.
Cazza

[chopin-liszt]

It's definitely a Glasform frog, John. Cazza wants to know how old it is, I think, and to have the marking confirmed or not.

However,  paperweighs of all kinds were produced in vast numbers, Cazza - they're sort of the "bread and butter" of the studio and it's very highly unlikely any single one of them is a unique, John-made-and-signed piece.