Topic: Cheerful Lithuanian glass pics, as requested by Leni

[Leni]

the red bits contain aventurine, the name of the piece is "Golden Rain".

Reminds me of Pomegranite seeds!  

Why do I always associate glass with something edible?   :roll: Paperweights = dolly mixtures;  Murano / ??Chalet = jelly (that's jello to you in the US  :wink: ) now pomegranites! - what next?  :lol:

Leni

Oh, and it's a seriously gorgeous vase Sue!    :shock:

PS  Thinking about it, I could carry this 'edible' theme on for ages, if I felt so inclined!  For example, amongst the antique glass in my collection there's cranberry glass, 'custard' glass, 'milk' glass ....  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[chopin-liszt]

And at the Scottish Glass 2000 exhibition, I saw a plate of bacon, eggs and baked beans made in glass. I thought it was quite revolting! (but then, I wouldn't like that in reality either!) :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

I also love the catemoticon >^oo^<

 :oops:  :oops: I do seem to be making mistakes with names though! Peill/Piell; (thanks, TMaritta) Exbor/Exebor and now Studija/Studja. It's not on porpoise! :oops:  :oops: Thanks everybody for keeping me right!
Cheers, Sue

[chopin-liszt]

Hello Max/Leni,
As far as the paperweight cats on the website are concerned, they look as if the body is solid colour, but I think this might be the "paperweight effect", because some of the cats in the shop actually have a core of colour, cased in thick clear glass. There's a bricky/orangey colour and a mushy pea-greeny colour. The core has a sandy-looking texture to it. They come in a few sizes, mine are 8" and 7" tall, to the tip of the tail, and I paid £17 or £19 for each. Prices tend to vary because the guys sometimes give me discount. I shall do some more investigation today, but if you were desperate, I could get you one and send it to you. It's difficult without you being able to pick your own though, as they're all different. I liked the small-headed fat one because I've got a small-headed (and pea-brained, bless!) fat cat. Iliked the tall one with grey spirals, because my other cat is tall and grey (hugely intelligent by comparison - it makes him feel so-ooo superior). They're heavy, so postage wouldn't be cheap, but cheaper than from the states.
>^oo^< (hope you don't mind me using this, Max, I LOVE it!)

        http://tinypic.com/286t92   ( not kissing-cats, it was falling over!)

        http://tinypic.com/286uki

        http://tinypic.com/286um1

 They're not purple, but blue. Cheers, Sue

[Max]

Well!  They're prompt  at answering emails in Lithuania, but it seems not very accurate   :shock:

""Dear Max,
 
in UK nobody sell these cats.
 
If You wish - we can produce for you.
1 pcs - 15,00 EUR.
 
Kind regards,
Vilniaus stiklo studija""

[Frank]

€15=£10.47 so even with post, cheaper maybe. You could even get them to sign it

[tmaritta]

Wow, by ordering the cats directly from the studio, you can probably ask for a specific colour.  Personally I like Sue's cats better than the ones on the website.  Let us know if you order them, Max.

The vases may be better priced directly from the studio as well.

TMaritta

[chopin-liszt]

Well apologies, I didn't make it into the shop today as I was caught up unexpectedly with an occupational therapist who needed to assess my Dad when I was there. I've been cogitating the glass I've seen in the shop and the pictures on the website, and I think there is a real difference in quality. (Which is why I suspect the chap who has the shop probably imports unsigned seconds. I don't suppose the Studio may really consider him to be their representative.) I never really thought it was top quality stuff, hence the description of "large, colourful and cheerful" I should probably have added inexpensive.)
If you're asking the Studio to make pieces for you, you could ask for the spiral or spotty ones, if you wanted them. It probably would be cheaper than me getting them for you, and you may well end up with better made pieces. You can see the spiral goes a bit wonky on mine. I'm still happy with my pieces, and they did not cost a lot.
I like to fill all my empty spaces with glass, and there are some rooms, eg kitchen, bathroom, the spaces at the corners of the stairs, cloakroom etc. where you don't really want to put very valuable items in case of damage and if I can find cheerful things to put in these spaces, I'm happy.       Cheers, Sue

[Ivo]

I have their brochure at hand from several years ago and there your cat is depicted in a little box at the rear page under "souvenirs", along with  a handful of paperweight apples and aubergines, a penguin and an elephant. I do not think they are very proud of that part of the production....
 So what could you say about the mainstay of the programme? It is large and heavy, colourful in the eastblock tradition, it suffers a little from lack of design or an overabundance of it, often it looks as if someone had a field day with a tin of treacle and some finger paint - but every now and then a piece of astonishing beauty comes out. If they would be more critical and eliminate 70% of the items in the catalogue they would be a top design company in the best Italian style. Unfortunately the company states they are 'constantly expanding the range of products and the capacity of production' - so their aim is to be a volume producer, not a quality one, which means they are  competing with east block design at east block prices.

[chopin-liszt]

, Well Ivo, you've put it in a nutshell, and so much better than I did! Do you think that it is only the pieces of real artistic beauty (as opposed to those of  :shock: "simple" :shock:  craftsmanship) that get signed, or that the company in the states selects these pieces with a request that they are signed? Cheers, Sue

[Ivo]

i was not aware they did any signing at all.