Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: karelm on April 06, 2007, 02:29:44 PM
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Hi,
I recently bought this weight (not my normal taste, but it is a long story):
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-6284
It is about 9cm/3,5inches across, and about 2 cm high. Flat top, with a butterfly impressed on the bottom. The butterfly has been finished in acid (I think) to give it a bit of shading with certain areas blocked off to allow for the clear wing marks. The side has small grooves all around. Although the add made no reference to a mark or signature I found the following on the side and towards the top:
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-6283 (Sorry thats as good as I could get the pic)
If the tail of the butterfly is 6 o'oclock this runs from 3:30 to 5:30. having tried to decipher I have come up with "Ales917.1.ccreycneecery" :o ;D
The first part could also be "AL1991.7.1. "etc
I have not been able to trace anything similar or figure the signature so could somebody please point me in the right direction. (I hesitate to say this but something says Scandinavian to me....but looking back at previous posts this has become a fall back position on some bad calls for me :-[)
Kind regards and all the best over easter.
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Karel, I agree it looks very Scandinavian in terms of the way the signature has been written... however, like you I can't work out what it says. :-[
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I have a rather similar one:
(http://www.seelentags.de/pw/sonst65-250.jpg)
This one is clearly signed "Kosta 99/72 MJ" (or MY) - nothing as long as your signature.
I am assuming that MJ (or MY) are the initials of the designer: anyone any idea who that could be?
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Now - that I see it on the screen: could MJ stand for Mats Jonasson - he did work for Kosta before he started his own business.
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I think you are correct and the signature is M Jonasson. Here is a Mats Jonasson (http://cgi.ebay.com/Mats-Jonasson-Blue-Tit-Lead-Crystal-Paperweight-Signed_W0QQitemZ330105298022QQihZ014QQcategoryZ995QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem) paperweight that I have for sale.
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Thanks Connie and Wolf!
Looking at my piece the last part does seem to say M Jonasson.
I had a look around and I could only find one reference to Butterflies but it seems the series has been retired.
I have sent a request to his website asking for confirmation.
Thanks once again!
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Looking at my piece the last part does seem to say M Jonasson.
I'm sure it does: and the "J" is like the "J" on my butterfly - which is why I wasn't sure if it was a "J" or "Y".
I had a look around and I could only find one reference to Butterflies but it seems the series has been retired.
For which company did you find the mention - Kosta-Boda or Maleras-Jonasson?
Jonasson left Kosta in 1975 - so clearly all his designs at Kosta will no longer be manufactured.
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Wuff - I think yours is an early Mats Jonasson also. It looks like his style but not as detailed as his later work, which is expected as his expertise and skill has developed over time.
Karel - Jonasson's work is not pressed. It is all hand cut, etched from the back to give the 3-dimensional image when viewed from the front.
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Wuff - I think yours is an early Mats Jonasson also. It looks like his style but not as detailed as his later work, which is expected as his expertise and skill has developed over time.
I have several of his more recent weights as well - my favourite is
(http://www.seelentags.de/pw/sonst68b200.jpg) (http://www.seelentags.de/pw/sonst68a200.jpg)
which is almost 25 cm high and weighs about 3.5 kg.
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Wow Wolf, doesn't he photograph well!!
I think his prices on line are really quite cheap, you can get a good collection together for not a lot of money.
Rather like the Capredoni Dartington ones, some lovely ones for not a lot of money really.
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That is really impressive Wolf!!
I found the reference here: http://www.wildlifegift.com/crystal_butterflies.html
But it is a bit ambigious as it say retired are availible if you order more than 20 ??? I presume this would mean they from Maleras? Has your butterfly got a ribbed edge?
Connie - It is intresting that they are hand carved, apparently it is a special glass that was developed for them. I have also now found that the shading is sandblasted. So not pressed or acid etch as I first thought!
Lynne I dont know how come they are cheap if there is so much hand work involved but they sure are impressive!!!
Thanks for all the info!
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Hi Karel, here are the ones available on ebay UK at the moment.... don't you think the Masquerade is wonderful!
Mats
Jonasson (http://search.ebay.co.uk/ws/search/SaleSearch?sofocus=bs&satitle=mats+jonasson&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC5&fbd=1&sspagename=h%3Ah%3Aadvsearch%3AUk&from=R6&nojspr=y&pfid=0&fswc=1&few=&saprclo=&saprchi=&fss=0&saslop=1&sasl=&fls=4%26floc%3D1&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D0&salic=3&saatc=3&sadis=200&fpos=E4+8SR&fsct=&sacur=0&sacqyop=ge&sacqy=&ga10244=10425&saslt=2&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&sabdlo=&sabdhi=&saaff=afdefault&afcj=&afmp=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&fcl=3&frpp=50)
The masks seem to make quite a bit more than the more usual animal intaglio weights. Here's one if you really really feel like splashing out :o
Argus L/E (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Argus-Limited-Edition-Mats-Jonasson-New-in-Box_W0QQitemZ7404448766QQcategoryZ995QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem)
I can't see any other silvery ones like yours though.
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But it is a bit ambigious as it say retired are availible if you order more than 20 ??? I presume this would mean they from Maleras?
MJ does a large range of animals and plants - so his Maleras butterfly could be different from the earlier Kosta version: I just don't know if he would be allowed to produce the same design, done for a company, later in his own business.
Whatever - it is not on their stock list any longer, but if a larger quantity is ordered, they'd do it for you.
Has your butterfly got a ribbed edge?
Yes - vertical - though minute.
BTW - dimensions of my butterfly are 91 mm dia and 23 mm high, and I guess the 72 in "99/72" implies the year it was made.