Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Scandinavian Glass => Topic started by: janettekay on January 01, 2009, 05:16:49 PM
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hi all
I have had this vase for awhile...been unable to ID...
7" High 4 3/4"w and 3/8" Thick....very heavy...
see signature.....I know there was a johanson at Orrefors...but not sure if that is company or not...
thanks so much
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/large%20scand%20vase/th_swedishvaselgsig003.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/large%20scand%20vase/?action=view¤t=swedishvaselgsig003.jpg)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/large%20scand%20vase/th_swedishlargevasesig003.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/large%20scand%20vase/?action=view¤t=swedishlargevasesig003.jpg)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/large%20scand%20vase/th_swedishlargevasesig002.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/large%20scand%20vase/?action=view¤t=swedishlargevasesig002.jpg)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/large%20scand%20vase/th_712c.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/large%20scand%20vase/?action=view¤t=712c.jpg)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/large%20scand%20vase/th_62d6.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/large%20scand%20vase/?action=view¤t=62d6.jpg)
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Hi:
There are several Johanssons who have created glass in Sweden recently. There's Willy and Wilhelm, both Hadelands, and Jan and Berit, Orrefors. However, all of them have a double "s" after the "n" and I see only one "s" on yours, so I don't think it's any of them. (In terms of style, it looks like something a young Jan Johansson might have done.)
Good luck.
David
P.S. Just to confuse things: After I posted, I googled W. Johanson and was led to this site, http://anitasfinearts.com/english/scandglass.html, which shows two pieces by W. Johanson, Orrefors, numbers 7 and 11. Everything else about the site looks very reputable. However, neither the Orrefors books by Duncan and Wickman list W. Johanson as a designer at Orrefors, and the same is true of the Pina books.
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thanks!!! (I think :o)--now I am more confused than ever ;D
(all these years...I have been thinking not Oreffors...as every piece I had -had the "of" or something similar that led to them)
also--I too only see one "s"..so I fear the mystery continues..... :huh:
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As far as I know, Willy Johansen is spelt correctly. ;)
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The only pieces I have by him are signed WJ so I'm relying on books for my spelling. The "e" rather than "o" is not something I've seen. I checked about six books and they all have Johansson. Of course, all the books are in English. I just checked the Hadeland website and it's Johansson. Is it possible we're talking about different people?
David
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Hi David, I apologise, that was early morning turbospeed there ( too much coffee, too quickly ) You are right, it's Willy Johansson.
This signature is really bugging me as I know I've seen it somewhere before. Perhaps it's from one of the companies that buys blanks from Kosta or Orrefors and then engraves the blanks..
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That would make sense. The W Johanson would be the engraver, then. I had already checked to see if Orrefors has an engraver with that name. No.
Enjoy your coffee. I'm just finishing mine before going to bed. Aren't time zones wonderful?
David
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thanks for all your comments... ;).
I do so hope we can solve this mystery :)
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ah--I am STILL at a loss.after months of looking :(..was hoping someone has thought of something . :huh:. I do so hate to list anything as unknown if at all possible
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I haven't come across the name yet, other than at the site I referred to before, which has two pieces by W. Johanson for Orrefors. The site was http://anitasfinearts.com/english/scandglass.html. All the other pieces on the site seem completely legit, yet the numbers they give for the two pieces don't match with Orrefors history. Neither do the two pieces they have match the style of your piece. If we went by Orrrefors coding, your piece would have been designed in the early 1930's. I had a look for it but couldn't find it. All the pieces I saw with numbers around 1180. were engraved and designed by Gate, Hald or Lindstrand, which would have put a G, H, or an L before the number. Also, all the Orrefors vases (and they are all vases) are footed in what looks to be black glass. Do you think your piece could come from the 30's? If yes, one suggestion might be to send on your pictures to Orrefors as they have the most complete records. You could also ask the site in Germany who have the two Johanson pieces what they know about the artist. I used to be reluctant to do things like that, but I've found most people I've asked questions of very helpful.
David
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The site referenced has more than a few incongruous descriptons and sigs, so you may safely assume that "Johanson" is misread or misspelt....
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There is a gentlemen named W. Johansson who lives in the small village of Orrefors, Sweden and signs his variety of
art glass with his name and Orrefors.
He has not been associated with the Orrefors Crystal Group as a designer or glass blower or engraver as far as I can tell in my visits to the Orrefors archives and many visits and studies at the Orrefors Glass School.
Bill Geary
PS. The owners of the Orrefors Crystal Group now want to sell the archives of Orrefors which includes examples of historic art glass, production records of Orrefors. Gullaskruv, Flygsfors, and other companies purchased under prior owners. The projected sale price is 32,000,000 SK and I do not know how this value was developed. The national
government is not interested in saving this important cultural treasure. Anyone know a banker??? I can talk to about buying the archives.
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thank you langhaugh, Ivo and Bill for your time and info.. :thup:
I deduce......since there is no "Orrefors" , or legit Orrefors number.....or "correct" spelling for a Orrefors designer....I still can only assume that this is NOT Orrefors..
and go back to my premise...the piece is in the style of some Orrefors and done by unknown artist... :-\
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The site referenced has more than a few incongruous descriptons and sigs, so you may safely assume that "Johanson" is misread or misspelt....
IVO--sorry to bother you ..but need to clarify....you mean "misread or misspelt"..on their site...not anything we are all seeing on my piece..right ?
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Janette, I think Bill Geary (http://www.glass.co.nz/nordglass.htm) has given you the relevant information about this piece. Bill is very familiar with both the Orrefors glassworks and the surrounding area.
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thanks anne...I was just a bit confused by all the replies..and was just trying to clarify...I am sorry if I did something wrong..was not questioning anyones info..just trying to make sure I understood what was being told to me...
even with Bill's--since no "Orrefors" is on my item --and I took this quote to mean he signed with name and "orrefors" (for town)-so assumed that he was another option..but not definitive ..since "orrefors" was not on piece..
"There is a gentlemen named W. Johansson who lives in the small village of Orrefors, Sweden and signs his variety of
art glass with his name and Orrefors."
and was confused with Ivo's--since was not sure the reference was to not being sure my signature had one or two "s"...or that the site was misreading their listed pieces...re: spelling....
thanks again..
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No worry - I referred to the Anitasfineart website which has a few mistakes, so I think it is not inconceivable that her "Johanson" should actually be a double s. In German the single S would make sense! Your piece has indeed no Orrefors on it, so it is not likely they made it. Maybe they produced the blank - maybe it is one from Skruf or from Kosta. I don't think you'll find out...
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No worry - I referred to the Anitasfineart website which has a few mistakes, so I think it is not inconceivable that her "Johanson" should actually be a double s. In German the single S would make sense! Your piece has indeed no Orrefors on it, so it is not likely they made it. Maybe they produced the blank - maybe it is one from Skruf or from Kosta. I don't think you'll find out...
THANKS ! for the clarification...that is what I thought you meant ;)