Topic: Huge Green Cut Vase - Do you know who made it?

[MarkHill]

Hi All,
I wonder if I may ask for some help?
I bought this large green cut vase last weekend and would love to know what it is. Someone told me that they think it might be Keith Murray for Stevens & Williams, but I doubt it. I'm thinking Czech, 1950s?
It weighs a tonne (more than my kitchen scales can handle!), and is probably made of lead crystal. The base is cut with a star, the body with bands of chevrons containing vertical lines. In between these are concave lenses. The rim is rounded, not machine cut and it's 30.5cm (12in) high.

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-8135

Any ideas?
Thank you very much in advance,
Mark

[Bernard C]

Mark — Any chance of a photograph of the base star.   It could help.

Bernard C. 

[MarkHill]

Hi Bernard,
Thanks for the reply, here it is:

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-8141

The base is rather rounded at the edges.
Hope it helps!
Mark

[Bernard C]

Mark — if the base star had been less than perfect, you could have eliminated some of the top quality English factories, like Walsh, S&W/RB, Webb, &c.   Unfortunately that base star is of the finest quality.

It looks hand-polished to me.   You can easily tell — you can still see the lovely faint striations of the cutting wheel.   Unfortunately there is nothing published as yet on this aspect, but if we all recorded and noted hand- or acid-polishing, a body of information would gradually emerge, and could prove useful in both attribution and dating.

Sorry — no help with sorting out your vase.

Bernard C. 

[nigel benson]

Hello Mark,

I was away when you put this on the board, but have now had a chance to check my information on Keith Murray.

Whilst this is a known KM shape (Pattern Nos. 716A and 725A) it is not a cut recorded in the KM Description Book. Having previously worked with the S&W pattern books I noted that KM shapes were used by them with different patterns cut onto the blanks.

With this in mind, and the known British characteristics of rounded rim(s) and star-cut base(s), I would suggest 1930's S&W/RB, but not Murray.

Kind wishes, Nigel

[MarkHill]

Hi there Nigel,
FANTASTIC! Thank you very, very much indeed. The colour and shape did hint at S&W, but I thought it was too good to be true. Of course I fell into the trap of thinking if it's got a bold modern cut and is turns out to be S&W, it must be Murray. Very silly, really.
What a lovely surprise - it is sitting, glittering on my windowsill now!
See you at Cambridge, no doubt, and so many thanks again,
Mark

[David E]

Mark, a web site you might already know about, but I'll post it here in case anyone else might need help:

http://www.keithmurray.co.uk/

[Anne]

This is another one David. http://www.keithmurray.net/