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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Unresolved Glass Queries => Topic started by: BJB on July 01, 2005, 01:52:22 PM

Title: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?
Post by: BJB on July 01, 2005, 01:52:22 PM: I have this come into my hot sweaty hand, and I would like to know if it is a real Art Deo thingy/whatsit or a later copy. :?

It is in clear frosted glass and has a series of what I think are called puti (sp) around the stem bit, and around the rim is a garland of flowers. It is 6.5" tall and 4.5" across the top. The base has a lot of wear around the edges, and looks genuine.

Mod: These pics no longer available.

http://tinypic.com/6jkbig.jpg

It could be the base of a stand, but there is no wear around the top of the rim.

http://tinypic.com/6jkfu9.jpg

I wondered if it might be Walther, I can't see any marks, so I don't think its English. Have the Chinese copied these yet :D :oops:

Barbara
Title: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?
Post by: Bernard C on July 01, 2005, 03:21:02 PM: Barbara — as it's not a pineapple stand (they went out of fashion eons before), and it's not a witches' crystal ball stand, it must be a gazunda (plinth). I have seen them with matching bowls atop.

It's not British, and very Waltheresque (a flash way of saying that I don't know but it wouldn't surprise me if it is Walther). There is a two piece Three Graces comport that looks to be from the same origin.

Bernard C. 8)
Title: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?
Post by: BJB on July 01, 2005, 04:00:45 PM: Hi Bernard,

Many thanks, don't think this could ever had had its top though, there is no sign of any wear at all in or around the rim.

I wonder if you bought the two seperately, and if you were not quite as well off as some you only bought the bit you liked :?

Would explain so many bowls and not so many thingy/whatsits :D
Title: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?
Post by: Glen on July 01, 2005, 04:21:11 PM: Barbara, I have the twin to your "gazunda" (nice term, Bernard). Mine is pale frosty blue. I also do not have the bowl, but I have seen the complete two piece deal at antique fairs. I hope that one day I'll find the bowl.

I have not yet ID'd the maker - hope that someone else may be able to help us here.
Title: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?
Post by: BJB on July 01, 2005, 05:24:46 PM: Glen, what did the bowl look like?

Did it have little puti's on or was it just flower decorated (just in case I see one somewhere......) would love to see a complete thingy/whatsit/gazunda :D
Title: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?
Post by: Glen on July 01, 2005, 05:27:14 PM: No puttis. Nothing figural at all. The bowl was wide and slightly cupped up at the sides. I believe it had panels. I think I would recognise it if I saw one :?
Title: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?
Post by: Anonymous on July 01, 2005, 05:34:46 PM: Hi

I have looked through various Walther catalogues from 1930's to 60's but cannot find this particular design. They did make tri-figural pieces but none that I can find that relate to puttis. My guess would be Czech....but then that is beginning to sound like a stock response these days when we dont really know :roll: :roll:

Regards

Gareth

Morgan48
Title: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?
Post by: BJB on July 01, 2005, 05:37:28 PM: Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh :o

Thought it might be easy to recognise, just my luck :(

Did it have a sticky outy bit on the bottom to fit in the reccess to stop it falling off?

I had the three graces one ages ago, and it had a peg-like sticky outy bit on the bowl :?
Title: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?
Post by: Glen on July 01, 2005, 05:41:44 PM: Yep, I also did all the Walther catalogues a while back - and no luck. I agree that the current "catch-all" seems to be "muzbecheck"...well it's a step up from the old Carnival Glass "catch-all" which was "muzbeenglish".

Barbara....no peg, or so I believe. I also have the Three Graces, and yes that piece has a peg.
Title: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?
Post by: Jo in Australia on July 02, 2005, 01:05:46 AM: The link to the Pressglas-Korrespondenz site shows a base like Barbara's and the bowl that should sit on it.

Here's the cherub centrepiece:
http://www.pressglas-korrespondenz.de/aktuelles/pdf/pk-2005-1w-blomfield-aufsatz-cherubs.pdf

Hope it helps :-)
Jo
Title: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?
Post by: Bernard C on July 02, 2005, 01:22:09 AM: Jo — that is very useful.

Although my German is non-existent, it is quite clear that this material states that the piece is not by Walther.

I am somewhat bemused by this statement. I would be quite happy to accept that it does not appear in their surviving company archives and trade catalogues, and that therefore it is unlikely (but not impossible) to have been made and marketed by Walther. That is quite fair. Making the leap to not being made by Walther seems to me illogical and unjustified without some other evidence.

I don't know of any major glassworks where we have perfect knowledge of what they did or didn't make.

Bernard C. 8)
Title: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?
Post by: Glen on July 02, 2005, 07:41:26 AM: Yes, that's the bowl! But we're no further forward are we? I agree with Bernard totally that it is not possible to say with certainty that the item was not made by Walther. The only correct deduction is that, based on material currently available, we cannot state with certainty that the item was made by Walther. And here's another fly to stir into the ointment........

There are items that appear in manufacturers' catalogues that were not necessarily made by that maker. They might be copies, they might have been simply wholesaled and sold on. Just finding a catalogue entry isn't proof absolute in 100% of cases.
Title: Who might have made this thingy/whatsit?
Post by: Bernard C on July 02, 2005, 08:37:37 AM: Glen, et al,

I was disappointed by this statement in the prestigous and influential Pressglas-Korrespondenz website, where one hesitates before making any criticism. I thought the old days of treating trade catalogues as complete inventories had disappeared a decade or more ago, and can only surmise that this statement must have been written some time ago.

It needs considered review and possible amendment.

I am not in touch with the proprietor(s) of Pressglas-Korrespondenz. Please would someone either let me know how to make contact, or pass on this material.

Bernard C. 8)