Topic: Signed Engraved Lady Vase. ID = Milan Mottl

[Ohio]

Five months ago I went on a appraisal for the estate of a 92 year old lady. Most of the 77 pieces were U.S. high end, however a couple were in all probability European & one was very skillfully engraved. I had this saved away before it was sold & purchased it today since I really like quality engraved glass & its relatively hard to find these days. All the glass was anywhere from 1890 to 1925. This vase is 10" height, 4" width X 2 1/2" width. Glass is 1/2" thick & engraving is 4 levels. The signature is extremely small on the bottom & was difficult to read & photograph although I think it says Mottl or Mottle...I cannot tell even under a 20X loop. Anyway I thought I post here to see if anyone has any ideas...am fairly certain it is European. Thanks, Ken

[Anne]

Hi Ken, I wondered if this is Milan Mottl glassworks in Karlovy Vary. Their website has vanished but there is an archived copy on the Wayback Machine: LINK

[Ohio]

Thanks Anne, much appreciated. Unfortunately I must be doing something wrong as I can get to the decorative glass category but when I try to enter "vase" category nothing happens. I did access Vazy in the czech language but again it was a dead end as far as pictures go. It seems the front of the catalog is available but the categories Candleholders. Vases, etc. are not available.

[Anne]

That often happens on archive.org, Ken. Parts of a site get saved, other bits not, especially so in earlier years...   it seems that Milan Mottl ceased around 2009.  Perhaps one of the Czech specialists may be able to add more when they look in.

[Ohio]

Thanks for trying Anne. At least I have a possibility that may pan out in the future.

[Anne]

Ken, I found Czech glass artist Dalibor Nesnidal, who worked at Milan Mottl here: http://vsemart.com/engraved-glass-and-metal-sculpture-by-dalibor-nesnidal/ - it might be worth an email to him via http://dalibornesnidal.webnode.cz/ with images and see if he can help?

[Anne]

And a roughly translated article which has several mentions of Mottl here: http://rusnewsjournal.com/3/145425/

[Anne]

Another vase with the Milan Mottl label and the Mottl etched mark - you can compare your mark with this one Ken:
http://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/3539555-milan-mottl-zware-kristallen-vaas-spijkerglas

and some wine glasses also marked Mottl:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Milan-Mottl-Etched-Hummingbird-Bamboo-Crystal-Wine-Glasses-Stem-Glass-Set-/222028654247

[Ohio]

Well Anne you are Godsend simple as that. Signature is a 100% match to mine on Wines so it is Milan Mottl. I did email the engraver from the site url so I will have to wait & see. The site is in Czech so hope he reads english...he probaly does. Thanks again & I'll let you know anything I receive from gentleman.

[bOBA]

Although I have only seen two or three such examples, Mottl was-is the producer of some extremely high quality modern art glass (post 1960) of the cut kind. The style and technique and quality can be closely compared to that of Lipsky designs for Exbor. It seems to me that there may even been designers and cutters linked to both houses. These posted pieces remind me too, of early Exbor engraved pieces before they made more modern looking glass. All top quality.

Robert (bOBA)