Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: Cazza on August 25, 2012, 01:42:51 PM
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Can anyone tell me is this a ditchfield signature on the base, it has quite a few scratches so is hard to make out.
thank you
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I can't expand your image to see it, but I would very much doubt it.
His writing is neat and rounded, each letter clearly formed and legible. He doesn't tend to sign paperweights - just unique pieces, although how things are marked did change over the years.
Have a read of his website!
http://www.glasform.com/
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Thank you will have a read
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Hi Cazza,
the frog looks right but the scratchings on the base look all wrong. A few things to consider:-
1) Signed "J. Ditchfield", numbered and Glasform on base means John designed and made the piece.
2) Signed and Glasform means John designed the piece but it was made by one of his colleagues.
3) Glasform alone means it was designed by a Glasform colleague and made by a colleague.
4) NO GLASFORM either means pre-1982 at another works or NOT John's.
Since this sort of frog design was not made before Glasform, then if no Glasform on base, it is possible that it is a similar design by someone else. Please note, that without attributing any blame or responsibility, John did have an employee leave and start making "similar designs".
Hope this helps,
Tony
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Thanks, Tony, but would you please clarify for me what you mean by condition 2)?
"2) Signed and Glasform means John designed the piece but it was made by one of his colleagues."
What is meant by the word "signed"? does that mean "J. Ditchfield" is written on it? or simply "Ditchfield"? and who would have written it?
Confusion can arise when folk use the word "signed" (which means the artist's personal signature) when what they are referring to is a piece which is marked - the name of the designer or studio written on the piece by somebody who works there.
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Hi thank you for your input, there is a label which is a bit torn but is definitely the Ditchfield one it has Glass ????? English on it i am sure its a ditchfield label there is also a number which i cannot read either as that is also partially torn. Perhaps an earlier frog then? I can only seem to find the ones that are a teal sort of colour this one is blue iridescent not sure where i can find out when it was made.
Cazza
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This is an image of the base of a "unique" piece - designed and made by John, signed, numbered and marked.
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Contact Glasform, they will be able to tell if it is theirs or not. Email address lower down the page here: http://www.glasform.com/contact.html
John
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Hi John
Have resent the email to the website, the first bounced back, no idea why, I cannot click a link to email as it goes to outlook express and i do not use it.
Cazza
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It's definitely a Glasform frog, John. Cazza wants to know how old it is, I think, and to have the marking confirmed or not.
However, paperweighs of all kinds were produced in vast numbers, Cazza - they're sort of the "bread and butter" of the studio and it's very highly unlikely any single one of them is a unique, John-made-and-signed piece.
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Glassform are usually helpful, I imagine they will try and help with the information that is asked for Sue.
Cazza, send them an email as you would normally, just type in their email address, you don't have to use the link provided.
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Hi Sue,
sorry about the confusion. What I meant by (2) "signed and Glassform" is indeed the same as (1) but without the unique number. Therefore I meant engraved with the name J.Ditchfield. However this is always, in my experience, in the same script/style and therefore is usually stated to be done by John.
A number of pieces have been seen with imitation Gold stickers on their bases so I am always wary if there is no engraving. However this frog certainly looks right.
Cheers,
Tony
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:)
Thanks, Tony!
I agree, this frog looks absolutely right, but I don't think it's anything more than a general Glasform frog paperweight.
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Hi Thank you to you all whom tried to help me. I have heard from the glassform website, they asked for my telephone number? very puzzled now. They asked me for a bigger photo first and then have asked for my phone number. Not sure what to make of that. Just hope its good news.