Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: brewster on December 02, 2012, 01:19:28 PM
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There are three items on ebay.au at the moment that are listed as the works of Sam Herman:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/200855115795
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/200855111761
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/160931133016
One is marked JFWI for the Jam Factory Workshop in Adelaide where Herman worked 1974-79. (I don't know what the I stands for, and the seller thinks it is the numeral 1.) The others are unmarked and none is signed. These items show his influence, as does much of the Jam Factory output in the late 1970s, but are they his works?
In 1977 and perhaps later, Herman operated a studio of his own in the Jam Factory precinct, employing trainees as assistants and as independent artists. I have seen works by Stan Melis, Rob Knottenbelt and Peter Goss, signed by the respective artist but subtitled SJ Herman Studio or SJH Studio. To my eye, these pieces display the influence of Sam Herman every bit as much as the ones listed for sale. I have shown them before on the GMB here:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,50103.msg283097.html#msg283097
The photos below show some other Jam Factory production pieces from the late 1970s, made by trainees and unsigned but identified as such by Stan Melis, both about 12.5cm diameter.
Trevor
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Fascinating, Trever, thank-you! (I can't currently see the whole listings - we went wireless recently (as in not a transistor radio ::) ) and t'internet keeps cutting out or refusing to load pages, so I can only see the main page - I can't see enlargements or the seller's blurb. So much for "advancements" in technology. :P
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Trevor one is marked for the Jam Factory and 1 but did you miss the mark underneath it?
or is it not relevant? - I thought Sam H had a terrible signature lol,
that looks a bit neat but reads SH to me?
m
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Could be SM - Stan Melis....
My Jam Factory marked piece reads Samuel J Herman 1975 and SA81. The SH (or SM) on the bottle in the listing is not written in any similar way to the way Sam Herman forms his capital Ss or Hs.
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Thanks, Sue and m. I didn't attach much significance to the initials SH because I thought at best that would be a tribute and hence not helpful to identification of the maker beyond what is obvious from the appearance. I agree they do not appear to correspond to Sam Herman's usual signing of either the S or the H.
I agree they could well be SM, and then Stan Melis is an intriguing possibility. Melis's signature on a few examples to hand shows some variability in both the S and the M, and does not rule out a match.
Another piece I've seen with the inscription JFWI from 1980 has an additional marking that seems to say U2. I'm not aware that Bono and the lads were in Adelaide at that time! On the other hand, it may suggest the letters SH or SM are not somebody's initials at all.
The obvious solution, of course, would be to ask Stan Melis. He has been charming and helpful on the couple of occasion we have met him, but he tends to move around. I'll see what I can do to track him down through other contacts.
Trevor
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Here are photos of the item referred to in the third paragraph above. It is 16cm high by about 12.5 diameter.
Trevor
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It's a lovely piece. :)
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I’ve come across more items from the early Jam Factory workshop, as shown in the first photo below. They range from 12 to 18cm high and all have a basically trapezoidal lower section, although some are more rounded than others. They are all inscribed JFW1 and signed PG in the hand of Peter Goss – see the second photo.
By happy coincidence, I have been in contact with Peter Goss in recent days, He is long retired from glass making, having stopped in 1991. However, he has been helpful with confirmations and recollections, and has resolved some of our earlier speculation.
My new items are Jam Factory production pieces from the mid-1970s, just like the items that started this thread. (Unfortunately, the ebay listings in question are now deleted, although two of the items are shown on the dealer’s web page here (http://www.circa20.com.au/Australian-pottery/Australian-studio-glass-artists/Sam-Herman-Studio-Glass-1970s-Jam-Factory-Adelaide) as Bottle #1 and Bottle #2 in picture 3.
From Peter Goss I learnt that it is indeed JFW1, with the numeral 1 to indicate the first item of that design. Remember these were intended to be production items, because that was supposed to generate the income to fund the workshop. The fact that every item seems to be JFW1 – not JFW2 or 86 or whatever – is a testament to those heady days of experimentation and discovery.
These items were made by Sam Herman and his trainees (Peter Goss, Rob Knottenbelt, John Walsh and Tom Persson) together with Stan Melis who was brought in to contribute his Slovakian glass making background to production ware. After a short time, Herman was less involved in production and the others did most of the work, although clearly influenced by their training. A piece might be worked on by several of them in various combinations, with design input from all of them. The person who finished the item usually signed it.
The item we were discussing earlier was inscribed JFW1 and signed with initials SM for Stan Melis. That piece is shown on the dealer’s web page as Bottle #2.
I’m no closer to resolving the apparent signature U2 on my blue piece from 1980 shown above. Peter can’t help on that.
Trevor
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I've just seen your post on the Aki Isogai thread Trevor.
I have this vase (see pic), can't reach it at the moment as it's right on the top of a tall cupboard.
And can't find any pics of the base but I seem to remember it might be signed 'Hook'.
I thought it was a Sam Herman piece and searched for a glass artist called Hook who might have worked with him forever and found nothing.
Any chance this might be an early Michael Hook (Jam Factory) piece do you think?
It's never occurred to me before now as his perfume bottles look so very different, but just suddenly wondered tonight. It has a very Sam influence I think.
Thanks for any thoughts :)
m
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aah, actually don't worry. I've fetched it down now and I think I came to the conclusion that it is signed Kooke not Hook.
Thanks for looking anyway :)
m
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Hi m. I think you are right about the signature being 'Kooke'. Michael Hook's sigs are usually clear, although they became somewhat stylised and harder to read in later years. The three examples below show the variety that I have seen. The earliest is from 1982, the middle one from the late 1980s I'd guess, and the third from a 2000s perfume bottle.
I agree that the free form of your piece also seems at odds with Michael Hook's refined and symmetrical later work. But then, I suppose, we all had to start somewhere.
Trevor
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these early Morar pieces from Peter Layton remind me of my vase - perhaps it dates to a similar period i.e. c. 1971
http://londonglassblowing.co.uk/timeline/
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Yet again, I'm solving my own puzzle. The item described in Replies #4 and 5 has the inscription JFWI (for Jam Factory Workshop), a date of November 1980 and also some initials of the maker. The form of signing indicates it is a piece made to be sold as JF production ware to finance the training operation.
I kept reading the initials as U2, which of course is nonsense in the circumstances. I now realise it says NR for Neil Roberts, who was one of only a handful of trainees at the time. NR went on to a celebrated career in sculpture and glass, until he was killed in 2002 when he was struck by a train while trying to rescue his dog from the tracks. For those interested, there is a website in his name maintained by his friends as a tribute.
I figured this out after seeing another JFW piece signed by Fred Tessari, who was contemporary with NR.
I realise that I'm probably the only person in the world who thinks the question worth solving.
Trevor
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I'm still reading and trying to take it in. ;D
I have a long-standing mystery vase that looks a little bit like your blue swathed one. Found on a stall under a bridge in Portobello Road, sometime circa 1999.
It has a large, roughly ground out, round pontil mark. It is absolutely not contemporary Chinese. I'll have to get pics, won't I? ::)
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You are definitely NOT the only person Trevor! :)
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Just adding for my future reference that my vase reminds me of pieces by Robert Fritz (just in case a Kooke worked with Mr Fritz in the past and comes to light one day - obviously it could just be an 'inspired by' piece though).
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Well it's very handy indeed that you have brought this thread up, m. as I have a little something to add, hopefully of interest to Trevor.
I have recently treated myself to the beautiful book on Sam Herman, (just published by Lund Humphries) and there is a small bit at the end about marks. on p 170.
It states that;
"When Herman was assisted by another glass artist or craftsperson, he always tried to ensure that their initials appeared on the piece."
:)
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Thanks Sue, that is interesting. I haven't seen that kind of marking, but then most of the SJH pieces I've seen come from the short period he worked in Australia (short, that is, relative to his long career).
Trevor
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Well, I think this means that if we find initials that are not related to where Sam was, then they indicate the person who worked on the piece with him.
We might have suspected this before, but it seems to be confirmed. I cannot think that the book is inaccurate.
There are other prefixes used. SA and a number for Southern Australia, '74-'79.
VAL for Val St lambert
The Lots Road Studio, '79-'84, used a prefix of "SJH" or "CA to CZ" or "CAC" before a number, while production work there is marked Sam Herman Studio.
A few pieces made at High Wycombe have the prefix HW
and 21st century work is not numbered.
I hope I'm not reproducing too much out of the book for copyright troubles!
I can say I recommend the book very highly indeed. ;D
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Thanks Sue. I don't think anyone will be put off buying the book. In fact, you've got me on the lookout for it.
I might add that 'Sam Herman Studio' and 'SJH Studio' were also used by his students on their own works for a graduating exhibition in 1977 as a tribute.
I've spotted one mistake though. SA is the state of South Australia, which invited SJH and largely funded the Jam Factory. The state comprises only a portion of the region 'Southern Australia' - and quite a chunk of The Centre as well.
Trevor
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I failed at geography, Trevor. :-[
I make the same sort of mistake about my own country too, put west coast places on the east and vice versa. ::)
The book "Sam Herman" is published by Lund Humphries and can be ordered directly from their website. I do recommend it very highly. It has only just been published, I don't imagine copies will be "around" places yet. It's not expensive, but it looks and feels like it is. The photography is superb and empathetic.
They're not paying me. ;)
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It certainly does look and feel expensive... my Hubby treated me to a copy a few weeks ago, and it is magnificent.
With that and the new Mdina Book from a friend in Malta, I have been thoroughly spoiled!
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I've put the Sam Herman book on my birthday wish list - and assisted with placing the order.
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Received my copy this morning, beautiful, really pleased with it!
Re the coding at VSL, the pieces I have shown in other threads are all signed differently. They all have the Sam Herman signature, the very large vase is signed V200, dated 1989, the smaller one is signed and marked Val St Lambert, has a number VAL125 and the other large one just the number 252 next to the VSL mark, but both dated 1979.
I guess with so many pieces it's unavoidable to come across these differences.
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Hi M,
Regarding your early studio glass vase shown in reply 9 with the unknown signature.
I stumbled across another early studio piece which is owned by Mark Hill which he has recently tentatively attributed to Bernard Rooke. The 'Rooke' signature looks very similar to my eyes. According to Mark, Bernard Rooke briefly experimented with glass and previously had a studio in Suffolk around the late 70s.
Please see below link:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CxNumdYoP4B/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
If you view the above link in the Instagram app, it also shows you a picture of the signature.
Best Regards
Greg
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Oh thank you so much Greg! I will take a good look later. I'd not known that about Bernard Rooke - very interesting.
m
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You're welcome, I think the signature looks like a good fit.
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I think the signature is a definite id and match.
The letters are formed in exactly the same way and the appearance of the signature very similar. My R is missing the top bit so looks like Kooke , i.e. a K because the top loop of the R would have gone over the very curvy bottom edge of the vase so.
I'm super happy with that as a match! Thanks so much Greg. Let's hope Mark Hill is right.
I can't remember if I did a thread on this one but if so would you mind if I link to that link? I've not got Instagram (had to get one of the kids to do it for me) so I hope Mark Hill might put it on his site somewhere?
thanks
m
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It's funny, I can't remember much from yesterday but remembered the signature on your vase!
Please feel free to use the link, it's a shame you have to view in the app to see the signature. There' are some interesting comments which I don't know if you saw which seem to also corroborate the attribution.
The below site also has a mention of Bernards studio in Suffolk and a link to the current studio run by his son. Perhaps his son may be able to help further regarding your piece....
http://www.studiopottery.com/cgi-bin/mp.cgi?item=149
Sorry M, just noticed the link in the above website no longer works. It might be worth checking to see if they are still an active concern.
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Thanks Greg. I had just looked up that link and was going to write to him (great minds and all that :) )
I will write to him with pictures. Just tried to upload a thread for it but failed somehow ::) Will try again in a mo.
m
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Greg thank you - I've read the comments and Mark Hill says he's had it confirmed as by Bernard Rooke. He says that BR did some glass for a while but it wasn't his thing and so they are very rare. I'm so pleased. I have loved this vase for a long time. I think I need to get all my studio pieces out now and do a display of those as a celebration of an id after all these years.
Thank you so very much! I really appreciate you remembering this one.
m
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please, when you do, take pics, can you put them in the Studio Glass threads?
Or create a thread for them, then a link to that can be added?
I just want to see it all and dribble. ;D
I have a piece by an artist who is famous for something other than glass entirely too, Laisner (architect, sculptor) made very litte glass, but the piece I have is something I fell for before I knew anything about it.
I can remember the thrill of that discovery, and yours has reminded me of all that joy and amazement.
I'm thrilled for you, especially as I have really loved this piece too. 8)
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Happy to help M.
Maybe drop Mark a message I'm sure he would love to see another example.
I think part of the reason it was so difficult to attribute is that there are probably hardly any other examples known!
It's great to be able to put the vase into context, it sure deserves it.
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I second the idea of Mark being very keen to see this. ;)
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I've sent him a message with the link to the vase so he can compare.
m
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:-*