Glass Message Board

Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Murano & Italy Glass => Topic started by: shandiane78 on January 12, 2008, 10:03:12 PM

Title: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: shandiane78 on January 12, 2008, 10:03:12 PM
Ebay item number 160195999593. Am I right in thinking this bird is by Dino Martens and worth significantly more than $140? I've never taken a risk this big, so if I'm wrong please lie to me. J/K!  ::)
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: TxSilver on January 12, 2008, 10:19:00 PM
Oh, Shannon!  :mrgreen:

It is Dino Martens. It is documented on page 170 of Heireman's Dino Martens as Model 5735 . Wonderful find, especially for such a small amount.

Anita
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: shandiane78 on January 12, 2008, 10:22:25 PM
Oh thank you, THANK YOU Anita! Do you know what the approximate value would be? I know book values are not usually realistic, but it might help me get an idea.
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: David E on January 12, 2008, 10:26:41 PM
I guess it's worth $140...  >:D
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: TxSilver on January 12, 2008, 10:36:07 PM
The only information the book has is that it was made in 1954 and has a height of 17.5 cm (6.9 in)? Maybe someone else will have a ballpark figure for the value. Heiremans is one of the books that don't talk money.  :)

Anita
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: shandiane78 on January 12, 2008, 10:38:21 PM
I guess it's worth $140...  >:D
Hey now! That's not nice.  :P Were you one of the other bidders or something?  ;)

Of course, you could be right, I suppose. I was obviously not the only one who thought it was special. But I can't help thinking it would have done better if properly listed, or if offered for sale in an off ebay shop.
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: shandiane78 on January 12, 2008, 10:41:24 PM
This is the only one I've been able to find that is somewhat similar...Only smaller and missing its beak:

http://www.trocadero.com/moltabellaglass/items/460538/item460538.html
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: TxSilver on January 12, 2008, 10:44:32 PM
I can guarantee you it is worth more than $140 if it is in as good of shape as it looks. If I had to guess, I would guess more in the $500-$600 range. The nice thing about documented Martens is that it realizes a greater fraction of its book value if you were ever to decide to sell. You invested your money very well!

Anita
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: David E on January 12, 2008, 10:47:19 PM
I guess it's worth $140...  >:D
Hey now! That's not nice.  :P Were you one of the other bidders or something?  ;)
Sorry about that Shannon - I sometimes can't resist!

But it is a very nice piece and probably worth a lot more than what you paid. I also have a penchant for glass animals and my menagerie is still growing – you might also like to consider mailing Frank a photo for the Glass Zoo 8)
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: shandiane78 on January 12, 2008, 10:52:18 PM
Thanks again, Anita! Also, thanks for the additional info from the book. I will reference that if/when I do decide to sell it.

David, no offense taken!  ;D I definitely identify with your love of glass animals. They take up a lot less space than bowls and such, and I just love the whimsical nature of them.

That was kind of exhilarating! I set my snipe for $166, and I really did not expect to win. I was a little shocked (and a little frightened!) when I got up this morning and saw that I'd won...
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: TxSilver on January 13, 2008, 12:10:57 AM
I am going to have to spend more time shopping on eBay. There are so many bargains there. I got discouraged a while back because I received so many pieces with undescribed damage or were broken in the mail when packaged poorly. Your gorgeous swan dish has resurrected my interest.

I hope that your swan has a safe trip to your front door. I love the colors. I like the way that Martens put such zeal into his designs. He had a way of turning a simple piece of glass into a work of art. I wouldn't be able to part with the swan -- it is just too pretty.

Anita
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: shandiane78 on January 13, 2008, 12:51:34 AM
I got discouraged a while back because I received so many pieces with undescribed damage or were broken in the mail when packaged poorly.

Anita

Oh, I can unfortunately commiserate with you on that point! I think I've had maybe 5 Paypal disputes in as many months because of receiving damaged items. In each case, Paypal has found in my favor, but it's their policy that the buyer must return the item at his/her own expense. So you're out the return shipping costs, and nothing to show for it. Basically a waste of time and money.  >:( This is EXACTLY why I've created a separate ID for selling. I think I'm ready to give (and receive) my first negatives with my buying ID.
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: shandiane78 on January 27, 2008, 03:07:18 AM
Well, here it is, and in perfect condition! I was anxiously awaiting this one...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/shandiane78/dinobird1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/shandiane78/dinobird2.jpg)
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: TxSilver on January 27, 2008, 01:06:46 PM
 :mrgreen:

A face is worth a thousand words. Simply beautiful. You take good pictures.

Anita
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: Frank on January 31, 2008, 03:19:54 PM
That is gorgeous and I would love to include it in the Zoo :-) We use big pictures there and need them on a white background. I can include a link to any website etc and you retain copyright.
Use the envelope on the left if you want to please.

(I tend not to ask a lot but, any animals or people shaped glass is welcome in the Zoo. We try to include with as many views as are needed to view the object. The low subscription is helping to fund my other free sites.)
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: shandiane78 on January 31, 2008, 05:35:13 PM
Thanks Anita! I got a "photo studio in a box" for Christmas, and I've had a lot of fun trying to improve my photos!

Frank, I will try this on a white background and email some pics eventually! Really! I have some other pieces to include as well. When something has white in it, I tend to use a black or gray background, so I'll have to retake some of my photos for the zoo.

Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: David E on January 31, 2008, 06:26:54 PM
Quote
... any animals or people shaped glass is welcome in the Zoo.
Anything with legs (except chairs and tables), fins, or meat-covered appendages ;D
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: Artofvenice on February 02, 2008, 01:50:32 PM
That's a nice piece. It is not one of the Marten's more famous collections and therefore the value is not "crazy" (as for Orientes or Zanfirici), but 140 US$ are now less than 100 Euro! Absolutely a deal.
It looks also pretty well done and without defects.

Buy, buy, buy

Alex

www.artofvenice.com (http://www.artofvenice.com)
Title: Re: WAY more than I usually spend. Please tell me I did well! Dino Martens?
Post by: shandiane78 on February 02, 2008, 07:14:44 PM
Thank you, Alex, for your thoughts on value. This is probably the best piece I've ever had, and I hope to make similar purchases in the future! Look at this one that got away: http://tinyurl.com/2weuja