Topic: Russian Lead Crystal??

[Pat]

I bought a clock, maker Majak made in USSR probably in the 50's. The clock case is what appears to full lead crystal and very very heavy in a sunray art deco style. Would the glass have been produced in the USSR or somewhere like Poland?  Hope some of you clever glassies may know.

Pat

[nigel benson]

Hello Pat,

Whilst there is no reason why the glass should not be Russian, since they had (and have) their own glass industry, which included cut glass in the 1950's, it will be very difficult to identify. Very little is published and available about Russian or Soviet Glass, especially in English, so you may have to wait - or just be plain lucky that someone can help.

Nigel

[Pat]

Here is a pic.

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-2123

Pat

[Ivo]

Both Voronov & Rachuk's "Soviet Glass" (Aurora, Leningrad 1973) and Asharina, Malinina & Kazakova's "Russian Glass of the 17th-20th centuries" (Corning Museum of Glass, 1990) give excellent information in English.  Kazakova's "Gus Krushtalny" (Moscow 1973) is in Russian and somewhat hard to find.

Your clock does not feature in any of these.

[Frank]

I have quite a few books and stuff on Russian Glass but short on time this week so will come back to this in the future.

[pamela]

Hi Pat, perhaps also a photo of the clock itself and its back and its mechanism could help further? I'm no expert but it is interesting nevertheless - thank you! And perhaps... we have a hiding expert also for that?  :wink:

[Anne]

*Bump*  - Frank did you manage to locate the Russian glass info you mention in this thread?

See also thread here: http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,8956.msg75739.html#msg75739

[Frank]

Forgot about this... I have just completed a pass through all of my crates and know that the Russian stuff is now right on the bottom  But while I was not looking for this type of glass I cannot say that I recall noticing anything like it.

[Pat]

Thanks Frank

[sovglart]

Super old thread and I don't know much about clocks, but just out of curiosity made a quick research.

Clock itself is not very common, took me some time to find a similar one. Production of another "legendary" Majak round shaped crystal cased clock was first launched in 1965, so it is likely that production of both clock models started around the same time. Letters and numbers on the back of the clock can provide some clues on topic.

It is theoretically possible that lead crystal case was made in Poland and brought to USSR, but it is very unlikely and overall quite impractical. Majak clock factory was geographically located quite close to one of the oldest and largest glass factories in USSR and according to info that I have found lead crystal case for a round shaped clock was made there. Would be logical to assume that all lead crystal clock details for other clock models were also made there.

The glass factory name is "Krasny Gigant" or "Red Giant". Initially founded in 1764(1763 by some sources) by A. I. Bakhmetev (other transliterations Bahmetev or Bakhméteff), factory got "Red Giant" name after the revolution in 1920s.
Unfortunately there is almost no info online. Reliable identification of their products is quite limited and difficult at the moment.