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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic, Austria => Topic started by: Sklounion on June 04, 2006, 09:12:00 PM

Title: Barolac?
Post by: Sklounion on June 04, 2006, 09:12:00 PM
Ok, so, this is a vase marked with an acid-etched label as Czechoslovakian. http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10018/normal_iNWALD_ls_.JPG
It has been seen, with Weil labels indicating that it is a Barolac pattern.
Me, i have a fair idea of initial production date, in both frosted and polished finishes.
Yet for me, design is post-war, and I have a feeling this is a Ludvika Smrckova design. Not necesarily a design for the Barolac range..... ideas?
regards,
Marcus
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Max on June 04, 2006, 09:39:59 PM
I'm sending you an email Marcus.   :)
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Sklounion on June 05, 2006, 05:55:10 AM
Hi Max, and thank you.

If I read that pattern number correctly (853) then it would appear to be significantly later than the two well-known Barolac items on the right of the page. Cannot really assume too much as I notice that the numbers cited for the "Trees" vase is very different to its production number.

This item is 200mm high, and 160mm at its widest point. It does have the classic Inwald mirror-polished base, but no relief or impressed Barolac mark.

Stylistically, this pattern is very different, abstract as opposed to naturalistic. and a major departure from pre-war Barolac patterns. I am suggesting Smrckova, as she arrived as chief designer at Sklarny Inwald n.p. in 1948. This vase has a close affinity with a bowl dating to 1948, from Mstisov glass works, at that time part of Inwald, and also a heavy engraved zodiac bowl from Exbor, both designed by her.

There is a great deal of new information emerging on Barolac, and any interested glassie should have a look at recent editions of PK, at www.pressglas-korrespondenz.de

I should also say, that over-heavy reliance on importer's labels, may be causing confusion. If Weil and other importers labelling, mentioning Barolac was put on all imported items, then it is easy to see why some pieces appear now, attributed as belonging to the Barolac range.

Thanks again and regards,

Marcus
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Glen on June 05, 2006, 07:15:03 AM
I had seen this vase on eBay recently and had exactly the same thought process that you had, Marcus. Stylistically, it is nothing like the early Barolac (Jenkins & Inwald) designs at all. Nor was it amongst all the Jenkins blueprints that I studied.

It is, however, on a Weil catalogue page that Jo in Australia showed us here on the GMB last year. It’s a tiny pic, but amazingly it is still viewable. I believe that catalogue is called the Weil New York 'Barolac Sculpture Glass' (Bohemia Glass) catalogue. What I don’t know, is the date of the Weil catalogue. Do you? Does anyone else? Can anyone throw any light on the relationship that Inwald had with Weil? And when?
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,2674.0.html

Glen
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Max on June 05, 2006, 09:21:48 AM
:D Glen, I had that page saved to my computer, I couldn't remember for the life of me where it came from!

It's what I sent Marcus via email.  :D Thanks again to Jo in Australia, that page has been very useful to me too.
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Jo in Australia on June 05, 2006, 10:41:36 AM
Hello All
For some reason I thought the catalogue was from the 1970s - but there's no date on the part I have.
 :roll:
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Glen on June 05, 2006, 10:50:19 AM
Jo - thanks so much for that. Your "feeling" could well be right.

Max - yes, me too  :lol:

Marcus - what do you reckon to the time line?

Glen
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Sklounion on June 05, 2006, 11:23:06 AM
Hi everyone, and thanks for the input.
The catalogue page is undated, so difficult to pin a date on Weil's importation. Clearly these pages are after 1948, and with the use of the Bohemia Glass motif, places this catalogue after the mid 1950's. Beyond that, we will need to know rather more about Weil's activities, or other Weil advertisments etc.
I personally would hesitate to classify this as Barolac, without some input from Petr Novy, so I'll be contacting him tomorrow, to see what information he has in Jablonec.
Regards,

Marcus
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Glen on June 05, 2006, 12:48:09 PM
Marcus, although you rightly hesitate to classify the Weil items as Barolac, the tricky thing is.......Weil themselves certainly did.

I have seen a piece (from the USA) that was marked with two labels - one that reads Bohemia Crystal Made in Czechoslovakia - and one that reads Barolac Made in Czechoslovakia WEIL Exclusive Importation. (I think the item they were on was a frosted Pansies vase)

Does this help you to pinpoint the timeline any more beyond after the mid 1950s? I can confirm that John Jenkins were still using the Barolac name in 1951 (and possibly beyond).

I have tried to search for info on Weil but can find precious little. Can anyone else help?

Glen
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Frank on June 05, 2006, 01:33:16 PM
I have some Weil catalogues, they imported from many countries and also commissioned exclusive designs from many countries. Will have a look through when I can find them.
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Glen on June 05, 2006, 01:35:13 PM
Thanks, Frank  :lol:

Glen
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Frank on June 05, 2006, 03:35:56 PM
I found some cats but no match. Countries mentioned for sources of glassware are Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Venice (murano), Italy, Denmark & France.

Portugal is mostly handblown, or pressed milk glass.
Sweden pressed milk glass.
Germany & Czechoslovakia cut glass
Belgium & France general glassware.
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Sklounion on June 05, 2006, 05:50:41 PM
Hi,

Frank, thanks very much for having a look through the catalogues.

Glen, You are right that Weil did call this Barolac. I note from recent editions of PK certainly PK2006-1 and 2006-2, that at least two importers used labels bearing the word Barolac. What is intriguing is the use you mention of a Bohemia Crystal label. Rudolfova, where most Barolac was made was not a lead crystal plant, yet Podebrady was, albeit until 1950. Such a label would indicate fabrication elsewhere than Rudolfova.

I'm looking now to try to find any publicity or catalogues from Sklarny Inwald, from the period 1946-1958, that give an indication of the range being produced in the immediate post-war period.

One other aspect of this is the mirror-polished base of the vase. I am still attempting to pin down a date for the change from mirror polishing, (as with pre-war Inwald,) to the matte-polished base associated with VHJ Obalovane a Lisovane Sklo and Sklo Union production.

Thanks again all,

Regards,

Marcus
Title: Barolac?
Post by: B & M on June 05, 2006, 08:25:18 PM
Hi Marcus, I too have often wondered about this design, having seen it offered for sale in the past. I always assumed it was a later design, though the swirls on the body do seem a little reminiscent of the bodies of the dragons on the dragon charger. Certainly I have never seen an example which I felt to be pre war.

Could I ask you to elaborate regarding your comments on the polishing of the base of the item. I have handled a number of larger Barolac vases, mostly opal examples believed to be pre-war (some signed, some not). I would not have described the bases of these as mirror polished. The footrims, though polished are still sometimes slighty matt, such as in this example I was recently watching on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Art-Deco-Opalescent-Art-Glass-Vase-Verlys-Type-Koi_W0QQitemZ7415954618QQ
It's sometimes difficult to determine what the original finish was, however, as these items do, due to their weight, tend to accumulate wear very quickly. Does the mirror polish only apply to items which have not been matted/ satinized? Certainly from what I remeber, the polished finish was not as bright as on contemporay pieces by Verlys, for example.

Unfortunately I don't have any photo's of the bases of my pieces for comparison as they are currently being stored at my parent's house. I will review them next time I visit & examine the bases to see if i can find out anything. I have some vases which both I and Siegmar believe to be prte-war but unfortunately I don't remember exactly how the bases are finished; if I find anything which might be of help as a reference for dating pieces, I will add it.

Unfortunately again, I don't yet have an example of the vase in question all I can say is that I don't recall seeing any catalogue references for the design other than Jo's post. Certainly it lacks the naturalistic style of most Barolac, though having said that, given the variety of designs being made by many companies during that period, that observation could be misleading.

Steven
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Glen on June 05, 2006, 09:09:47 PM
I'll add my observation of Inwald items from the 1920s - 1930s. Inwald's Carnival produced around this time is very distinctive and recognisable on account of the smooth mirror-shiny base grinding. The glass was "stuck up" and therefore ground after cooling. Although many European makers used a similar method, only Inwald's glass had a characteristic "polished" look.

The area of grinding is usually around the outer edge of the rim. I've just looked at my opalescent Barolac "Loss of the Revenge" vase, and yes, the ground section of the base has a smooth, shiny grind.

Glen
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Sklounion on June 05, 2006, 09:34:06 PM
Hi Steven and Glen,
The vase in question has a mirror-polished base which is very different to most, if not all the VHJ, Sklo Union items I have here.
This vase has some serious wear, yet still retains the polished base.
I know this item has been less well cared for, yet do not believe this is anything but post-war production.
As noted earlier, I have some worries that some of these items may not be Rudolfova Hut' production, but the item in question suggests an extremely pure sodium-potash glass associated with Rudolfova.
Barolac as a marque is normally only associated with Inwald. This item in both design and production quality terms, to me, is Inwald, though not necessarily Barolac per se.
Will post an image of the base in the morning.
regards,
Marcus
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Jo in Australia on June 06, 2006, 12:26:32 AM
I have a satin version of the vase in question. I've just checked and it's finished with the same smooth ground/polished finish on the base as my other 'Barolac'  (marked and unmarked) pieces, definitely not high gloss.
Let me know if anyone wants a photo and I'll try and take one.
 :)
Title: Barolac?
Post by: Sklounion on June 06, 2006, 03:33:23 PM
Hi,
As promised an image of the base of this vase.
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10018/normal_Inwaldvasebase2.JPG
Note the heavy wear to the centre of the foot, but clearly still showing what I would define as mirror polishing, acid-etched Tchechoslovaquie to the bottom if the image.
And a slightly better image of the vase.
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10018/normal_Inwaldvase1.JPG

Regards,

Marcus