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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Scandinavian Glass => Topic started by: Pinkspoons on September 11, 2006, 11:52:26 PM

Title: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on September 11, 2006, 11:52:26 PM
I just read on the internet that Kastrup and later Kastrup-Holmegaard only ever produced uncased gulvases in dark blue, dark green and amber themselves and that gulvases produced in smokey grey, clear, and light blue were made in the UK under license.... but unfortunately it didn't give a company name.

I don't suppose anyone knows which glassworks that may have been, if the information is actually correct?

Bit of an obscure one, and probably unanswerable, I know - but then most of my Holmegaard questions are these days!  :lol:
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on February 24, 2007, 09:24:44 PM
Just skimming through old messages, and came across this thread (http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,4507.msg36173.html#msg36173) with the comment:

Interesting that it has a retailers label on ‘Cascade England’ I have seen that two times before both on Holmegaard Gull vases (I know the label for 1960s 70s items) – not saying that it is Holmegaard but it feels imported from Scandinavia.

Adam P

It's a shame that Adam doesn't mention the colours of the Cascade-labelled vases.

Reading through several threads on here to do with Cascade, the loose concensus seems to be that they were an importers. Could it be possible that rather than being an importer, they were producing Scandi designs under license in the UK? It's just speculation, but I'm not sure pieces actually made by Holmegaard would have been re-labelled, as the design and interior magazines of the period that I have seem to regard Holmegaard quite highly, and it was sold fully advertised by Heal's department store - so I can't see much point in putting the label of a lesser company on the glass.

And culled from another thread, which may back up my specualtion (emphasis mine):

I have a recollection that "Cascade Glass" was a trade mark used ( with a black and silver label of a fountain cascading down by one of our pressware comeptitors now defunct. So it may be Waterstone Glass of Wath upon Wear near Rotherham, Wodd Bros, or Trent Valley.
I have not seen a catalogue for ages, and I left my archives on defunct British Glass to the Broadfield House Museum in Kingswinford, near Stourbridge. A call to Roger Dodsworth the curator ( and author of "British Glass between the Wars" may solve the mystery!
The blue looks like Waterstone who made mainly bottles and ashtrays and a few things like eye baths in that blue. (See Eyebath website for Woods as well!)
Sorry not a definite solution but a lead perhaps...
Fancy giving away my archives in July and deciding in September to start collecting British Domestic Glass! Doah! What a plonker! ::)

So if anyone just happens to be passing Broadfield....  ;D
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on March 24, 2007, 08:39:19 PM
Righty.

Cascade made Gulvases, under license from Holmegaard, originally for use as decor in Ralph Lauren shops throughout the UK. Each colour of vase represented a different section of the shop, and the bottles were displayed in large numbers in wall alcoves. For example, ladieswear would have clear Gulvases lined up in the walls, and footwear would have blue (those aren't the actual colour assignments, they're just examples).

Not only did Cascade produce the non-Kastrup/Holmegaard Gulvase colours of pewter/smoke, light blue and clear, they also produced them in Holmegaard's dark blue and amber. This explains why there are some Gulvases in the "official" colours kicking around in sizes under 10", which was the Kastrup/Holmegaard catalogue minimum.

It only took 6 months to solve the mystery. Just need to find production dates now!  ;D
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Anne on March 24, 2007, 09:07:59 PM
Well done Nic, that's extremely useful to know. Are you able to supply your information source/reference as well please? I'm thinking that this topic should be archived as important data and the source would be jolly useful to have there also.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on March 24, 2007, 09:14:24 PM
I was chatting to Michelle from NoPinkCarpet, who is one of the folk to chat with about Holmegaard, and she disclosed the information. I think she said she got the information from Ron Wheeler, who was in charge of HG's UK marketing/sales for a period.

I've yet to verify with Ron, but I was too excited (in my geeky way) to wait til then. So best hold off the archiving for now. :D

But it does all tie up with information I already had.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Anne on March 24, 2007, 09:37:24 PM
Indeed yes, we'd not archive just yet anyhow, but it's useful to have something flagged as archiveable IYKWIM!  ;D  I know what you mean about the excitement though... you just *have* to tell someone don't you, or you feel you'll burst! :)
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on March 24, 2007, 10:03:45 PM
Something very much like that!  ;D

But I'll put in the proper hours with the verifications. Also need to see if pestering the goodly folk up at Broadfield will yield some help with production dates.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Max on March 24, 2007, 11:49:29 PM
Great.  So my proudly displayed Holmegaard Gulvase is actually a Cascade Nullvase.     :'( ::)

Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Anne on March 24, 2007, 11:58:24 PM
Actually it's a Cascade nullvase licensed gulvase, Max!   >:D
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Cathy B on March 25, 2007, 12:09:44 AM
Max, that brings up an interesting question though - will this make any difference to the value of the items to collectors?
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on March 25, 2007, 12:24:03 AM
The clear and smoke ones already fetch considerably less on eBay than those with Holmegaard colours, so I think many serious collectors are already aware that they're not strictly Holmegaard.

However, I don't think it will alter the value of the dark blue and amber ones as they're indistinguishable from the Danish-made Holmegaard models. It may make labelled vases that bit more desirable, though.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Max on March 25, 2007, 12:57:43 AM
Guess which colour mine is.   ::)

Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Cathy B on March 25, 2007, 01:00:09 AM
 :'( The one Mum smashed was a dark green. If only it had been smoky grey...
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on March 25, 2007, 01:04:45 AM
If you bought it because you like it, rather than an investment, then it's still all good, Max..

After all, the only difference between a Cascade and a Holmegaard, besides colour, is that one was made in Copenhagen and t'other was probably made in Rotherham.  ;D

How big is your vase, btw Max? I also need to figure out the range of available sizes from Cascade. I did once find a tiny amber Gulvase (from memory, approx. 15cm tall) at an antique fair for £1, but I had literally just spent my last pennies.  ::)
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: josordoni on March 25, 2007, 09:32:54 AM
OH dear, I just looked at the last Gulvase I sold..... the height was right, at 10 inches, so I was happy, but it was grey/smoke colour......

Still, the buyer was happy so I suppose I shall just have to know for next time.

I wonder what the right wording would be now for these?

Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Max on March 25, 2007, 11:29:29 AM
Nic, here's mine: http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-5868 

It's between 9.75" and 10" in height.  :)

PS:  Please take note that my glass shelves have been cleaned!!!  ;D

Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: robbo on March 25, 2007, 01:06:42 PM
I've got a smoke one too, exactly 10", but it's much more 'brown' smoke coloured than Max's (which looks a nice grey)  ???
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: josordoni on March 25, 2007, 01:24:14 PM


PS:  Please take note that my glass shelves have been cleaned!!!  ;D



(pats Max on the back, and gives her a housework gold star....)

(please don't come round and look at mine..... ::))
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on March 25, 2007, 03:22:39 PM
Thanks for the picture/info, Max. :)

Robbo. I've seen the browny-grey ones too - I'm not sure if they're Cascade also, but they do seem to pop up for sale almost exclusively in the UK. There's still LOTS of poking around to do for definitive answers.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Anne E.B. on March 25, 2007, 03:55:27 PM
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-5886

Cascade Glass label on a Dansk lookalike candleholder.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on March 25, 2007, 04:35:46 PM
I still think it's quite possible that Cascade reproduced several Scandi designs within the UK under license. Much of their known non-Gulvase output does seem to be very Scandinavian in appearance.

Fingers crossed the research will shed some light on it, but it may be a while with all of the other Holmegaard stuff I'm up to my eyeballs in right now.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on March 26, 2007, 08:56:32 AM
Here's an example of the light blue Gulvase up for auction:

HERE (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110107601880)

These don't seem to pop up as often as the other non-Holmegaard colours.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: kisslikeether on November 16, 2010, 07:12:22 PM
Very old post I know but just to clarify Cascade Glass was a tradename used by Chance Brothers & Co of Birmingham who were the licence holders to make the Gulvase in the 1970s.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on November 16, 2010, 07:41:08 PM
That's interesting. What's the source of your information?
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: David E on November 16, 2010, 07:55:26 PM
There is a link on great-glass.co.uk

http://www.great-glass.co.uk/glass%20notes/glossf-m.htm

Quote
'Gulvvase'
The 'Gulvvase' (literally 'floor vase', sometimes also referred to as 'telescope vase'), was designed by Otto Brauer, Master Glassblower at Kastrup, in about 1962. At first they were only produced in an uncased dark olive-green, amber and dark blue (by Kastrup, and later Kastrup-Holmegaard). Kastrup also made them in opal (white) glass cased in clear, probably around 1963/64. Around 1967 they were re-issued in yellow, cased in clear glass, and opal cased in coloured glass. The colour range was opal/blue, opal/red, opal/green, and a very few using Kastrup's original dark olive-green over opal. Around 1970/71 an opal/yellow version was introduced and the opal/clear and yellow/clear versions were phased out. The size range was 25cm, 30cm, 38cm, 43cm, and 50cm (although not all colours were available in all sizes). The vase is also found in clear, light blue, smoke-grey, and 'rauchtopaz' (a sort of 'smoky amber'). These were made, under license from Holmegaard, by Chance Brothers of Birmingham, England, under the tradename 'Cascade Glass'

However, I have yet to see any evidence, written or otherwise, to support this so I will ask Philip where he got this information from. I just cannot reconcile this.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on November 16, 2010, 08:04:25 PM
Most of that info is from my (very outdated) Holmegaard site, but I've never heard of a link between Chance and Cascade.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: David E on November 16, 2010, 08:08:58 PM
I haven't studied this thread in great depth, but could Cascade have been importing into the UK under license, rather than manufacturing?

I also noticed this on Glass Gallery:
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-5886
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on November 16, 2010, 08:21:27 PM
I considered that they were importers, as much of their stuff has a decidedly Scandi bent, but dismissed it on grounds of parsimony - the additional colours used for the Cascade Gulvvaser appear nowhere else in Holmegaard's palatte, and Holmegaard was a fairly big name so why buy it in and rebrand it with something obscure? Other importers of Holmegaard from the period plastered the factory name all over their adverts.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on November 16, 2010, 08:30:45 PM
Cascade also put their name to these piggybanks:
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: David E on November 17, 2010, 08:19:36 AM
Thanks for that Nic. I would be very surprised if Chance had anything to do with the Cascade brand, unless it (or Pilkington) bought up an importing or manufacturing company. That is the only way, I believe, that there could be a link.

As for Chance physically making these items? That does stretch my imagination. But I will ask Ray Drury as he can answer technical queries regarding glass colours and Tony Cartwright who might help with the Cascade brandname.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Ivo on November 17, 2010, 09:46:07 AM
XL pig in clear, small pig in smoke here, both with label:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,37074.0.html
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: glassobsessed on November 17, 2010, 11:28:25 AM
Could Woods Brothers have made the licensed Gulvases? They did manufacture similar items for Dartington for a short period (1978).

John
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: chopin-liszt on November 17, 2010, 11:46:40 AM
I have (or have had - I can't find it) a (bright, not smoky) amber Gulvase with a Cascade label. I'm pretty sure it was about 30cm tall. It's either packed away, or M persuaded me to give it back to a charity shop.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on November 17, 2010, 12:09:11 PM
Could Woods Brothers have made the licensed Gulvases? They did manufacture similar items for Dartington for a short period (1978).

Stephen Pollock-Hill suggested them too:

I have a recollection that "Cascade Glass" was a trade mark used ( with a black and silver label of a fountain cascading down by one of our pressware comeptitors now defunct. So it may be Waterstone Glass of Wath upon Wear near Rotherham, Wood Bros, or Trent Valley.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: David E on November 17, 2010, 01:20:12 PM
A very comprehensive reply from Tony, which strongly debunks the link with Chance, I think:

Quote
This is interesting, because of course, the Woodland design started life as Cascade as pointed out on page 55 of Chance Expressions. But when I reflect I vaguely recall that the problem of the name originated from a complaint by a foreign manufacturer or importer. I also recall that it was not a similar product at all to our range and we thought a big and unnecessary fuss was made at the time. I remember that the Pilkington Legal department handled the matter and recall having a phone call one day to say that we had to change the name and could they have the new name straight away so that they could check validity and register it..  We hadn't chosen one at that time and I said Woodland there and then! That was it!

and later...

Quote
Hope this helps a little and that I have not confused the matter even further, but it did occur to me that because we did attempt to use the name Cascade and in fact printed literature and issued press releases it could have contributed to the Chance name becoming associated with this story!

My underline to highlight the cogent portion of the message. Must admit, I'd forgotten I'd written that about the 'Cascade/Woodland' pattern.  :-[

So I think that's the only link Chance could ever claim to being 'Cascade'!
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Pinkspoons on November 17, 2010, 01:48:31 PM
That certainly might explain the confusion.

Holmegaard had a series called 'Cascade' (1970-79), but then so too does Stuart (not sure, though, if this is a later series). There were likely others.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: David E on November 17, 2010, 01:52:19 PM
I also suggested Adams Pottery (Wedgwood) as it also had a pattern of this name from 1969-73. Chance's Woodland pattern is dated 1973 BTW.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: squizoid on May 24, 2011, 11:27:48 PM
Hi, I just picked up a gulvase with a Cascade label...thought I would share pics. It the middle one being 12" tall (next to 10" and 14"). The only difference I can see is that the rim is slightly rounded up (see pic)...not sure if this is normal for Cascade?
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: flying free on May 25, 2011, 06:35:12 AM
Thanks for that!!   :)  I've put one in the main glass section questioning confirmation of id, it's turquoise 10" and looks exactly like yours.  Can you measure the base of your 10"one please? and if possible weigh it for me?
I would be so grateful :sun:
m
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: squizoid on May 25, 2011, 09:40:06 AM
Hi M, the 10" gulvase is just shy of 10" at 25cm tall the base is exactly 9cm wide, sorry...can't do the weight.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: flying free on May 25, 2011, 10:10:55 AM
That's fine - thank you  :clap:  mine is 9cm width at the base as well and 10" tall.  I just wanted to check dimensions.  I was sure mine was right but wanted to check the base width.
Many thanks
m
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: flying free on May 25, 2011, 08:21:05 PM
mine doesn't have a rounded up rim btw, I meant it looks proportionately just like the cobalt 10" vase in the post above and no up rim (just for reference).
m
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Ursa_major on November 11, 2014, 11:29:19 AM
Bright Amber "Gulvase" with cascade label as described above. Height is 10" and weight a slight 276gm
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Ben.unwin on April 03, 2016, 03:39:34 PM
How do you tell the difference between Casade gulvases and the original ones by Holmegaard?
Is there a price difference between the 2?
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Ursa_major on April 03, 2016, 06:29:48 PM
Someone else will have to help with weights of known Holmegaard examples. From what I have seen where weights have been given, the Cascade ones are significantly lighter perhaps as much as half the weight or less.
 This may be purely because the only ones I have seen are single colour i.e. not white on the inside and not cased in clear glass. I now have two of these and they are virtually the same weight. Both are single colour and uncased.
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Ben.unwin on April 04, 2016, 02:44:35 PM
Thanks for the info!
Is there a notable difference between prices? I'm trying to buy the original Holmegaard pieces but don't want to be caught off guard by a "cheap buy"
Title: Re: British Licensed Gulvases....
Post by: Ursa_major on April 04, 2016, 06:42:43 PM
I have never seen a piece sold as "Cascade" and of course most people don't know there's a difference. I have seen pieces which appear to be Cascade from clear descriptions achieve prices on a par with Holmegaard pieces. Again the vendor probably did not know. They all of course follow Otto Brauer's design.