Topic: vase identification: Mstisov?

[bOBA]

Hello all. I have a vase that is likely of Czech manufacture and I would appreciate any comments please.

I was discussing a similar vase with a board member last month and he suggested it was possibly Mstisov. This vase is near identical and unlike some other Mstisov items it has not been identified yet on the board lists (I don't think) so I thought I would post it here. This style does not seem to appear in the great Mark Hill book either, though Zemek and Mstisov are covered in some detail.

It is about ten and a quarter inches high and is flattened in shape, i.e. not round. It has the typical flat polished and surface scratched base typical of a lot of quality Czech glass. If Jindrich or any other GMB member would kindly comment, possibly with a date of manufacture, I would be grateful. Thank you!

bOBA

[Max]

I thought that was a rare Whitefriars vase in Evening Sky for a moment...took me a while to find you a link that actually shows a vase in that colourway, it's that rare:

http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ceramics/pages/object.asp?obj_id=299276

[Jindra8526]

This is Mstisov, Frantisek Zemek, 1st half 50ties. I have the same in blue. This factory had prodced amazing glass, mostly forgotten now.
Jindrich

[bOBA]

Thx very much Max and Jindrich for your useful opinions!

The colourway did quite amazingly resemble the evening sky which was tempting to consider (especially financially) but I would think it likely that Jindrich has it right, esp. if owning a directly similar piece. I could always triple check by running it past the whitefriars website but I should think that GMB has its own Whitefriars people to chip in if they also thought it was evening sky.

I am glad that Jindrich recognises it and pending any other firmly held views this should be a positive identification! Thx again GMB members,

bOBA

[vidrioguapo]

The Whitefriars production of the Evening Sky  seems to have been a technical disaster as the mix of colours were incompatible and during the cooling process in the lehr, most of it shattered, thus only a few good ones have been seen.

I wonder if the Czechs had any similar problems with this mix of colours.?

[Jindra8526]

I have not heard about colour problems.
Traditional Czech glass furnace had 6 melting pots - 5 colours + crystal. Cooling proces of free-hand shaped pieces was very long, days rather than hours. I try to get more information about this issue from old glassmakers, for the moment I did consider only design not technology.

Technology of free hand hot shaped glass was very popular in Czechoslovakia. I have found that many Czechoslovakian factories had produced this type of glass for some period, so the list of potential fabricators is relatively huge. In case I have no exact picture of pattern it is difficult to guess factory. Also Mstisov range was much bigger than I did ever expect, not only Harmony, Rhapsody, Pizzicato and Romana but also Opera, Rainbow, Riviera, Andrea and probably much more. It is really very exciting to investigate the mostly forgotten heritage of Czechoslovakian glassmasters.

Jindrich