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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Animals & Figurines => Topic started by: Max on March 18, 2006, 11:03:45 AM

Title: Uranium lampwork creatures
Post by: Max on March 18, 2006, 11:03:45 AM

I bought these four items last week.  I'm not crazy about lampwork, but these looked quite interesting.  The seller reckoned they came from a house clearance in the Midlands...and judging by the amount of kack on them, they're quite old.

I did check out Franks Pirelli site, as the fish and parrot have dual colour eyes, but I don't think they are Pirelli.  The parrot has uranium body and wings, and the crocodile (how did he survive?  Perfect tiny toes and teeth!) is uranium also.

Croc measures about 4" long and the 'bad dog lampost' is about 7" high.

I think they're by apprentices mucking around with glass...any thoughts?


http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-1279  Croc glowing

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-1276  Croc non glow

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-1277  Parrot non glow

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-1280  Parrot glowing

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-1278  Bad dog and lampost

Title: Uranium lampwork creatures
Post by: Max on March 18, 2006, 11:16:18 AM

I remembered one of the items I didn't win from this seller, and had another look at it. He did mention that he thought his glass items were Stourbridge friggers, but I didn't properly look at one item he had.

This was it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=991&item=7397021947

It's a Stourbridge frigger pen, and I missed it.  :(

Title: Uranium lampwork creatures
Post by: Leni on March 18, 2006, 01:49:09 PM

Actually Max, are you sure these aren't Murano? I'm sure I've seen the dog and lampost before, and they do still make pens similar to that one today in Murano!   :shock:

Ours are not as fancy, but they were just cheap(ish) tourist stuff :wink: http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=rml0f7 (excuse the 'messy' photo  :roll: )

Title: Uranium lampwork creatures
Post by: Max on March 18, 2006, 01:55:29 PM

I'm quite serious in asking for people's thoughts on these.

I'm sure these aren't Murano.  They're very well made indeed, and in no way feel like cheap tourist tat  :shock:  to me.  Somehow, they seem like labours of love, not quite sure why I feel that.  Maybe I'm developing a 6th sense and can communicate with glass...  :wink:

Title: Uranium lampwork creatures
Post by: Frank on March 18, 2006, 02:05:54 PM

Dog and lamp post is a common motif.

Title: Uranium lampwork creatures
Post by: Leni on March 18, 2006, 02:26:21 PM

Quote from: "Max"

They're very well made indeed, and in no way feel like cheap tourist tat  :shock:  to me.  

 :oops: Sorry, Max!  I didn't mean to imply that about your purchases!    :shock:  :oops:  I was just saying that the Murano version we bought was, shall we say, 'in plentiful supply' in the tourist shops in Venice / Murano.

I recognise that yours is a much superior version, and probably has much greater age, but the nib in particular does look quite similar in style to me.      

Not meaning to 'cast nasturtiums'  :oops:  :roll:

Title: Uranium lampwork creatures
Post by: mrvaselineglass on March 18, 2006, 02:31:04 PM

I have seen some of this style of lampwork coming out of Russia as contemporary work and some of the pieces have uranium glass as part of the color scheme.  I don't recall the website, but saw one that had 500+ critters and some were my favorite color.
Dave

Title: Uranium lampwork creatures
Post by: Frank on March 18, 2006, 03:28:29 PM

Fish and Parrot are not Pirelli, eyes are done in a different way. Others do not look like P either. So these could have come from anywhere, as likely UK as Russia, Germany, Italy, etc.

Title: Uranium lampwork creatures
Post by: Max on March 18, 2006, 05:43:50 PM

Thanks Dave, Leni, Frank.  :)

Being sold alongside the Stourbridge pen, with the same (albeit hearsay) provenance, I'm inclined to think these are Stourbridge too.

I'll probably never find out though.  I'll just enjoy them.  Especially Mr Snappy, the crocodile, he's sooo sweet.  :wink:

Title: Uranium lampwork creatures
Post by: Frank on March 18, 2006, 06:02:45 PM

No reason why not and not neccesarily from a glassworks.