Topic: Blue vase optic ribbing - HELP with ID

[twenty21]

This vase appears to have all the characteristics of a Whitefriars. It comes in a sapphire blue colour - I have a ribbon trail Whitefriars vase in the same colour - but this shape does not feature anywhere in the catalogues with internal horizontal optic ribbing. The polished pontil is on the base. Any ideas?

[glassobsessed]

I had a similar vase in yellow with the same optic ribbed pattern, more barrel shaped though. I assumed it was by Webb but that was just a wild guess. Many glass works made similar designs I think from the 30s until maybe the 50s or 60s, what sold by one company got copied by another, commercial imperative I guess.

Nice though and underrated.

John.

[Cathy B]

One day it might be worth trying to pin some of these down using the width of the ribs and the colour ranges.

[Bernard C]

Carlo, John & Cathy — Over the last year I've seen three similar vases, all slightly different shapes, that looked like Webb, S&W/RB or Whitefriars certainties until I picked them up.   They were too light and the rims were wrong.   Now, I could be being overcautious, but I am starting to think that the examples I saw might be recent.

If you can get it to a large general antiques fair or a reputable auction house, Carlo, you should be able to find someone who will help.

Once you know it's OK, then you need to establish which of the three made it — as John says, not always easy!

Bernard C.  

[twenty21]

Hello Bernard

Thanks for your feedback. After some research and assistance from many helpful people,  I can now limit the likely manufacturer of this piece to either Kastrup or Holmegaard. I have a reasonably good knowledge of Holmegaard but I was perplexed by the lack of signature. I have been told that Holmegaard started regularly signing pieces in the 1950s. I have manages to find a Kastrup drinking set with glasses exactly in this shape and colour and with the same optic ribbing. Whitefriars was easy to exclude since their optic ribbing was limited to 3 shapes and this was not one of them. Thanks heaps. Carlo

[Ivo]

just dropping two extra names of companies who made/ make lookalikes:

Pasabahce

Libbey

[Cathy B]

I don't think your's is, but just for the record Tiffin's Swedish Optic pattern is similar. It came in their colours Copen Blue, Twilight (neodymium) and Wisteria. This is allegedly one with a horrible gold rose.