Topic: daum vase

[nrl]

Hello

I hope this one is better.

[Frank]

That is a cameo sig. Much clearer, it looked gold in the tiny pic 

[Mike M]

Hi

The signature is almost certainly for 1900 to 1920 -it would have had France added if it was any later

However this particular vase has turned up quite a lot lately -alas no photos are going to be able to help check if it's an original or a more modern immitation.

The ones that are 'more modern' have shallower cutting and if you run you hand over the surface they still feel like they have sharp edges -as they are quite new. Either way giving a definitive old or repro decision is very very hard.

cheers

Mike

[Frank]

Another pointer, according to Chervenka, to copies is that the glass behind the cameo was ground out from inside the vase behind raised parts, whereas the original will be smooth.

I must admit to being puzzled by this but it presumably improves the light transmission.

Other warning pointers of Chervenka are

Clear glass body with paper thin flashing.

Spattered or mottled body (needs a bright light through the glass to detect)

No ground pontil, sheared rim

Mark prominent in top half of piece.

Concentric rings in the ground pontil of originals. Due to the thickness of outer casings.

Chervenka makes no mention of the high quality Japanese examples that were made in the 1960/70's and fooled all the auction house for years but he does say that the Romanian and Czech copies are technically equal to the originals.

Specifically on Daum, he says they were the only cameo to use multicoloured bodies but is generally so well blended that there are no clear boundaries. The repros have very clearly defined spatter and mottling.

[Mike M]

Great points Frank

Except, chervenka seems to have missed that Galle did do a few multicoloured bodies - but to be fair these marbled vases are very distinctive -beautiful orchid one in 'Cappa' if you have that book

all said, it still doesn't make it easy to be sure   -my rule is with Daum is: if in any doubt leave it.

One thing I'd love to know is why are the Daum fakes so much harder to spot than say the Galle?

cheers

Mike

[Frank]

Probably because it is less popular out of France and US. Also there is an awful amount of modern, but good, Daum on the second market and that tends to dilute interest I suppose. There are certainly a lot books in French than other languages.