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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: wolkenreb on August 12, 2011, 01:53:56 PM

Title: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase ID = Caithness
Post by: wolkenreb on August 12, 2011, 01:53:56 PM
This is my fave out of the 2 vases I bought at the charity shop.  I know I've seen the style, but don't know where it comes from.  The external glass has a refractive quality, is that makes any sense ie you can't see through it because the light is bouncing all over the place.  Hopefully that shows in the pictures.  The base is mostly concave, with just the tiniest flattened bit to allow it to stand.  There are six bands of green and blue inside.  It is about 6.5" tall and quite heavy.  I love it!  Any ideas where it may have been made?  Thank you!
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: glassobsessed on August 12, 2011, 02:50:13 PM
Caithness, Oban range. More examples if you search this board.

John
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: wolkenreb on August 12, 2011, 02:51:36 PM
That's great.  Thank John!  Will have a look.

Nancy
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: rosieposie on August 12, 2011, 04:48:27 PM
Oh, that's not fair, I was going to say Caithness, 'cos of the colour streaks, but the base seemed too heavy!  :cry: That wouod have been the second one I would have got right...ooooops, sorry Nancy this isn't a quiz, is it!!  :pb:
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: wolkenreb on August 12, 2011, 05:11:28 PM
This Board isn't for the faint hearted Rosie!  But while I've got your attention, and maybe you may redeem yourself here, do you how the effect I tried to describe was produced?  I mean, it's not just plain, clear glass, so what is it?  (That's your starter for 10 . .)
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: glassobsessed on August 12, 2011, 05:49:39 PM
Textured is how I would describe it.

Rosie, you can't have too many books... ;D

John
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: wolkenreb on August 12, 2011, 06:01:37 PM
I hate to be a pain John, but how does it get 'textured'?  It's certainly a very smooth finish, so is texturing a process that the glass goes through?  Reckon I need some books myself.
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: rosieposie on August 12, 2011, 06:02:48 PM
I don't know...... :cry: :usd: :pb:
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: glassobsessed on August 13, 2011, 02:51:03 PM
Three ways I can think of off hand, blown into a mould, rolled onto a suitable surface to give the desired finish or manipulated with a tool of some sort. All would be performed when the glass is molten and fluid, blown into a mould I would think is most likely here. Once a vessel has cooled it could be engraved or cut and polished to give texture.

The back of this hedgehog was given texture by repeated cutting or grinding (the Italian term for this is Battuto): https://picasaweb.google.com/Johnmj100/CzechGlass#5432668265232393970

John
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: chopin-liszt on August 13, 2011, 02:57:28 PM
I'm not sure texturing is common on the Caithness Oban ranges at all!

(I've got a bit which has a "texture" - of cellulite - it's an accidental finish. It's on an Isle of Wight Studio Glass blue azurene Fish, by Michael Harris, circa '86).

However, this texture on this bit of Oban is clearly intended to be there.
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: wolkenreb on August 13, 2011, 03:01:42 PM
I think I get it.  So this Caithness piece is probably very finely textured.  I can see now that it's not completely smooth - I wasn't looking properly before (and of course it doesn't feel completely smooth  either.  Many thanks for all of the info John.  Artifacts take on a new personality when you know a bit about them.
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: glassobsessed on August 13, 2011, 03:18:11 PM
Occasionally, the way something is made can help to give clues as to who it was who might have made it.
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: Frank on August 13, 2011, 08:26:58 PM
These weren't moulded, after adding colour and casing they were just swung on the blow-pipe to stretch them out, bonked on the ground to flatten the base and that's it. Quick and cheap to make. The texturing might be a deliberate experiment or it could be caused by cooling effect on the marver or whatever was used to flatten the base on the ground.
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: Frank on August 13, 2011, 08:32:53 PM
p.s. Just checked Marks books, confirms method. Form designed by Peter Fuin. Ken Wainwright did do some 'presumably 'experimental textured pieces in Oban... but much more pronounced... technique explained in book, so perhaps this falls into the same category. So far undocumented.
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase
Post by: rosieposie on August 13, 2011, 08:35:43 PM
I want that hedgehog!!! :cry:

Back to the vase.....if they were 'bonked on the ground' as you say Frank,  could the texture be formed by the floor's surface perhaps??
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase ID = Caithness
Post by: Frank on August 14, 2011, 09:00:36 AM
It would not actually be the floor, would be something on it, wad of wet paper or wood. Not likely to be the cause of texture. Picture is not clear enough for my eyes to really see the texture. So could not say for sure if this is an accidental (unlikely but not impossible) or deliberate texturing.
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase ID = Caithness
Post by: wolkenreb on August 14, 2011, 11:45:16 AM
Is this picture any help? 
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase ID = Caithness
Post by: Frank on August 14, 2011, 06:23:08 PM
If the texture elongates away from the base it was intentional, if it is a consistent 'shape' then more mysterious.
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase ID = Caithness
Post by: wolkenreb on August 18, 2011, 12:45:38 PM
I've been reading an article by Mark Hill which says that the Oban range was designed by Charles Orr in the 1970s.  Does anyone know if this range is still in production or did it end in the '70s?  (I've tried to find out on line but no luck.)  Thanks.
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase ID = Caithness
Post by: Frank on August 18, 2011, 05:10:25 PM
Probably into the 80s but cannot access all the cats at the mo, no sign of it in the 90s. Flamenco seems to be a rework on the theme that was produced through the 90s
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase ID = Caithness
Post by: Frank on August 18, 2011, 05:32:33 PM
In general I add all of the catalogue dates that an item appears in so looking at individual entries should give some idea of production years for each variation/shape ... but of course most of the art glass has not been added yet.
Title: Re: 2nd speculative buy - really lovely cased clear glass vase ID = Caithness
Post by: wolkenreb on August 20, 2011, 12:52:24 AM
Thanks Frank.  You are so helpful and I appreciate it.

Nancy