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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic, Austria => Topic started by: mrvaselineglass on June 11, 2005, 10:03:31 PM

Title: Help needed on ID: Amethyst Beaker / Ranftbecher
Post by: mrvaselineglass on June 11, 2005, 10:03:31 PM
Hello all
I have a flint glass beaker in Amethyst glass which I think is European. It is 3 1/2" tall and has a good bell tone when flicked.  Any help would be appreciated.  I have had some people look at it and it is true amethyst (not sun-purpled artificially).
These photos were taken outside.  The ones that show my fingers were taken in morning light.  The other photos were taken in indirect outdoor lighting.
http://www.vaselineglass.org/purplecup1.jpg (http://www.vaselineglass.org/purplecup1.jpg)
http://www.vaselineglass.org/purplecup2.jpg (http://www.vaselineglass.org/purplecup2.jpg)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Dave Peterson
Title: Help needed on ID: Amethyst Beaker
Post by: Ivo on June 12, 2005, 07:37:33 AM
The item is known as a "Ranftbecher", made in Bohemia anytime between the 1820s and the 1860s. Of course there are later examples - the Biedermeier style has known several revivals and similar items are still produced by Egermann and other traditional Bohemian glass makers. It is not usual to attribute these to a specific maker; there were far too many companies making glass in this style, but it is understood Egermann is the largest. There are many collectors of Ranftbecher (the word is either plural or singular), especially in Germany and Austria where they will fetch anything upwards from 200 Euro to the low thousands for more elaborate decorated items
Title: Help needed on ID: Amethyst Beaker
Post by: Frank on June 12, 2005, 06:27:37 PM
Crust of bread beaker :D

Ranft (Don't drop the F) is used to mean crust of bread but it is not a commonly used word. It can also be used to mean edge. So it seems likely to be an archaic name that got coined a long time ago when the word was less unusual.
Title: Help needed on ID: Amethyst Beaker
Post by: mrvaselineglass on June 12, 2005, 09:25:38 PM
Thank you all for your help!!

This group is the best!
Dave