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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: neil53 on October 11, 2012, 11:46:26 AM

Title: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: neil53 on October 11, 2012, 11:46:26 AM
Hi, I have a couple of modern (1980s) commemorative glasses each of which has an etched or engraved mark on the bottom of the foot which reads "fo" or possibly "of" as it can be read either way.  There are no other makers' marks on the glasses.  Does anybody know if this is a maker's mark or significes something else?  I've attached a picture which shows it as best as I can considering how small the text is.
Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: Nemmie on October 11, 2012, 12:00:52 PM
It's Of,short for Orrefors.



Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: neil53 on October 11, 2012, 12:02:42 PM
Thanks Nemmie, much appreciated.  I gotta get my head out of the 18th century!
Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: Lustrousstone on October 11, 2012, 03:32:35 PM
We need pictures of the glasses to confirm
Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: neil53 on October 12, 2012, 01:23:55 PM
Hi, thanks for taking the time to take a look at these.  Both have 'of' signed to the base.
Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: marie anne on October 12, 2012, 01:49:23 PM
I'd think Orrefors if seeing 'Of' but the Prince of Wales feathers suggest otherwise.  Is it a Prince of Wales investiture or Royal Wedding commemorative?  Can't make out the date in the photo.  'Of'/'fo'  could be the engravers initials.
Marie.
Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: Nemmie on October 12, 2012, 03:46:10 PM
Mark is the same as one piece I own that I know to be Orrefors.

Same lettering same distance apart. Could be a coincidence though.



Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: neil53 on October 12, 2012, 03:49:03 PM
Hi, the mark is in the photograph in the first post and is identical on both glasses.  The commemorative glass is for the wedding of Charles and Diana.
Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: Nemmie on October 12, 2012, 03:51:42 PM
Yes sorry I forgot that we had already seen it.

I don't see why a Scandinavian glassworks would not make a glass to celebrate an English Royal wedding. The fishes are very scandinavian.

Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: neil53 on October 12, 2012, 04:01:51 PM
Hi, I did find a reference to 'of' as Orrefors at http://www.stylendesign.co.uk/guidepages/marksntoq.html but I am not sure that it is the same format.

I should also mention that one of the glasses has 'PEP 1980' etched into the foot rim in pointilist style.  Not sure if it helps but .......
Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: Lustrousstone on October 12, 2012, 04:19:32 PM
The fish look like standard salmon. I'm not convinced by the of
Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: Nemmie on October 12, 2012, 04:27:07 PM
That picture of the of mark is nothing like what it actually looks like.

The f used is the same f used in the orrefors full name and is very distinctive.

I have attached pictures of a fish paperweight that I know is orrefors and its base etched of mark.




Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: marie anne on October 12, 2012, 04:50:17 PM
Hi,
It looks like there is writing on the other side of the Prince of Wales glass?  The fish could be Scandinavian, but I'm also wondering about Scottish designs?  See Stuart Strathearn leaping Salmon at Scotland's Glass...   www.scotlandsglass.co.uk/cms/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=3868&category_id=341&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=6
Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: marie anne on October 12, 2012, 05:15:21 PM
Think I've found the glass shape which has the salmon on it.  The shape looks like Orrefors Carina, see http://www.orrefors.com/collections/assortments/complementary/carina-wine-16-cl.html . 
Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: neil53 on October 13, 2012, 07:25:18 AM
Hi Marie Anne, and thank you for spending your time on this.  The glass certainly looks like the Carina but the one I have is 181 mm high and 75 mm wide at the bowl rim, so the dimensions are somewhat off.  The stem also narrows to the base more than the one shown.  As far as the salmon is concerned I believe it is a device used by various glass makers, but I have yet to find the exact design as seen on this one.  Oh well, I guess I need to either keep looking or sell it as a "probable Orrefors".  Once again my thanks for your help.
Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: neil53 on October 13, 2012, 07:27:27 AM
Sorry, I should have added that the commemorative glass has CD within the date 29th July 1981 and an outline of St Paul's Cathedral on the reverse of the Prince of Wales feathers.   This makes it more likely to be of British manufacture but certainly doesn't exclude Orrefors.
Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: marie anne on October 13, 2012, 07:42:56 AM
181mm high would make it the Carina water goblet.  It doesn't tell you whether the engraving is by Orrefors, but I'm convinced the Salmon glass is an Orrefors Carina shape.  The 29th July 1981 is a Charles and Diana commemorative.  Hope this helps a bit. 
Title: Re: Etched 'fo' or 'of' mark on base of modern glass
Post by: neil53 on October 13, 2012, 08:17:08 AM
Hi Marie Anne, that's great news if there is a Carina goblet of that size.  It doesn't necessarily mean that my 'of' means Orrefors but it certainly goes a long way towards it.  I'm aware of the CD/Prince of Wales feathers glass being a Royal Wedding commemorative and suspect that blank Orrefors glasses may have been bought in by a UK based engraver.  I'll see if I can find the other glass in the Orrefors catalogues and report back if I do.  Thanks once again. Neil.