Topic: Large Aquatic Theme Vase, Bohemian?

[Ohio]

I picked up this 18" large aquatic theme vase, I don't know if these are Lobsters or Crayfish, but I am leaning toward Bohemian. The paint is enamel & is not a transfer or decal. Any thoughts are certainly appreciated.

[Ohio]

Well I posted this late last night (USA time) was half asleep & did not include a closeup of the base. Sorry about that...this might help. If anyone has any suggestions other than Bohemian I appreciate any thoughts. Thanks, I apprecaite the help since I'm keeping it. Ken

[Frank]

The red and white edging looks familiar not sure from where though.

Are you sure its not a mixture of transfer and hand 'featuring'?

[Lustrousstone]

I think think those are crayfish, of which there are three families. BUT, interestingly, the example given for the family that live in N America and east Asia is red, see herehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambaridae, while the examples for the rest of the world are greyish when live. The other pointer is the plant, what is it? Doesn't look like a made up example. Just some thoughts

[Ohio]

Frank there is no evidence of a transfer & a tiny brush stroke here & there is visible from the inside of the vase looking through the design. My daughter is a Fine Arts graduate from OSU & she examined it carefully & said definately hand painted enamel by someone who had some training. I just figured it might be Bohemian since they had some decent artists in factories such as Harrach, but that of course is only a guess on my part. There is a slight optic to the glass which is 1/8" thick....it's decently heavy. Ken

[Ohio]

Christine I tried to find a match for the plant & stopped fairly quickly as there are at least a couple of hundred aquatic flowering plants & unfortunately I am not plant knowledgable. Ken

[Frank]

He posts here too.

Note that while I don't think it is all transfer, it could be a mix. The red and white edging I have seen before but not recently and cannot now remember where.

Transfers can be made with brushes and pens as well as printers so brush strokes are not always the giveaway of handwork - must admit I have not seen many examples that are made using hand made transfers and I would expect them to be older in the age range of this piece. If Bohemian decorators ever used the methods is another question. It is a fascinating study area, for the innovations alone, but difficult when you cannot study examples first-hand.

See the slumped and transfer printed forum for more information.

[KevinH]

This is probably a candidate for moving to the Cafe ... but ...

Most of the crayfish now seen in the UK (well, England, certainly) are the American form having done serious damage to the native species. So, if modern glass decorators were to produce something like the item discussed here, and aimed at the UK market, they might just show red crayfish instead of grey ones!