Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Scandinavian Glass => Topic started by: Pinkspoons on May 29, 2007, 06:46:02 PM
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I've seen a couple of these pop up in the USA recently, advertised as Holmegaard Gulvase, and reach some absurd prices.
AUCTION (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/7-In-1960-Holmegaard-Glass-Gul-Bottle-Vase-Otto-Brauer_W0QQitemZ320120005934QQihZ011QQcategoryZ29563QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
Any clue what they are? I'm not sure if they have some age, or if they're brand new. It looks to have a rough pontil, which discounts it as Holmegaard instantly. I only have one HG piece with an unfinished pontil, and that's a unique frigger.
They reference Pina's 'Fifties Glass' in the auction, but I'm assuming it's just an ordinary Gulvase illustrated (although I'm not sure why a Gulvase (1962) would be in a book on 1950s glass)? I don't own a copy of it.
Edit: Just had a look at their other auctions, and they've another null-vase...
AUCTION 2 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/15-In-1960-Holmegaard-Glass-Gul-Bottle-Vase-Otto-Brauer_W0QQitemZ320120000412QQihZ011QQcategoryZ29563QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
White cased in yellow cased in clear? I don't think so.
Their blue one, however, looks roughly about right - although the blue looks a little too thick at the base and it's either and inch too tall or two too short. Given the other two vases, I'd be highly susepect:
AUCTION 3 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/13-In-1960-Holmegaard-Glass-Gul-Bottle-Vase-Otto-Brauer_W0QQitemZ320120002123QQihZ011QQcategoryZ29563QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
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Mystery solved - they're brand spanking new, and retailed solely by West Elm (US furniture store).
Poor buyers!
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Well done Nic! I did have a look through new stores, but it was hard to coming up with search words. How did you find out?
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Someone has a properly described one, with original label, on eBay right now: West Elm Vase (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WEST-ELM-HOLMEGAARD-STYLE-GREEN-GLASS-VASE-NEW_W0QQitemZ160086565121QQihZ006QQcategoryZ45494QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem)
It's such a shame that these photographs aren't going to stick around longer than 90 days. I think I'll ask the seller of the vase above if I can pilfer their photographs for my Holmegaard site's soon-to-be "Commonly Mistaken For..." section.
I wish I had less scruples sometimes - I'd buy up the 5 vases in the auction and make an absolute killing on them (after removing the original labels first, of course).
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Well done Nic - a great piece of sleuthing. Do you think though that the seller knows this information and is pulling a fast one or is it a genuine mistake? Might be worth keeping an eye on his auctions to see if he gets more 'gul vases' on a regular basis ....
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The seller knows the information now - I just mailed them.
I'm not expecting a reply, to be honest. But then if you could get £100-£200 for a vase you already have on auction by ignoring the message, or £17 or less by paying attention and relisting, even if it were a genuine mistake, it would be a tough call for even a very honest seller.
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The seller knows the information now - I just mailed them.
I'm not expecting a reply, to be honest. But then if you could get £100-£200 for a vase you already have on auction by ignoring the message, or £17 or less by paying attention and relisting, even if it were a genuine mistake, it would be a tough call for even a very honest seller.
What I meant was, I wonder if they've being bought new from West Elm with the intention of selling them on eBay as genuine. If that's the case they'll have them for sale on a regular basis - just have to keep watching their auctions I suppose. Hopefully it's just an honest and understandable mistake.
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I see what you mean. Sorry, I'm not awake properly just yet. ;D
I can't see them on West Elm's website, so possibly they're maybe a year or two old.
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The seller knows the information now - I just mailed them.
I'm not expecting a reply, to be honest. But then if you could get £100-£200 for a vase you already have on auction by ignoring the message, or £17 or less by paying attention and relisting, even if it were a genuine mistake, it would be a tough call for even a very honest seller.
It shouldn't be. I've just pulled a ceramic figurine (with a bid on it) because I have doubts of its maker - I just sold a similar good one (damaged too) for £67, but the collector had a look at the 2nd one as he was collecting the first, and doesn't think it is quite right. So I've pulled it. No brainer.