Topic: Early Loetz vase?

[glassobsessed]

A friend bought this recently at a bootsale . Although he is not computer savvy he reckons that using his mobile phone to access the internet he has identified it as Loetz. :mrgreen:
I offered to try and get him some more info, :angel: can anyone help with factory, age or designer?

Thanks, John.

[glassobsessed]

More photos

[glassobsessed]

I forgot to check the size but from memory, probably about 20cm in diameter and 15cm high.

John.

[Andy]

It looks like Loetz Creta papillon, c1900
http://sites.google.com/site/loetzglass/loetz-page-2

but i wouldnt be able to be 100% (not handled any! Anyone else?? )
Cheers
Andy

[glassobsessed]

Andy, you are a gentleman and a scholar, thankyou.
I was a bit sceptical that the vase was made by Loetz but that looks like a dead ringer. :hiclp:
When I handled it to photograph it I noticed that it had a quality 'feel' to it, very nicely made.

So it appears to be Creta Papillon, designed in 1899 and the production number would be 8115. What does 'Creta' mean? Excuse my ignorance.
Would this be a rare and/or valuable item and would the designer be known? My knowledge of glass made before 1950 is best described as lamentable (not much better after).

John.

[TxSilver]

I do not think that yours is creta. Craig, don't the creta vases have green glass? The glass in this thread looks clear to me. Would that be candia? I am not sure what these words mean. Maybe someone can shed more light.

[glassobsessed]

I think the glass is clear, that was more obvious at the pontil, a bit frustrating not to have it in front of me. The photos were taken outdoors in bright sunshine and also in partial shade.
So far in my surfing I have not seen a finish of exactly the same colour, the photos do accentuate the yellow tones, I remember the blue tones to be a bit more prominent this morning.
How much variation in colour was there generally between items in a particular colourway?

John.

[TxSilver]

I think the vase is a Loetz papillon, only not green like the one in the link. Loetz workers used different colors of glass for the finish. If yours is clear, it is probably candia papillon?? (Written with a question mark because I know only a little about Loetz)

[glassobsessed]

That is the conclusion I was coming to, Papillon - definitely spots and Candia (amber) is the closest colour, not sure if Candia refers to glass colour or 'finish' colour.
So does the shape have a name or is it referred to with the number 8115?

John.

[obscurities]

Hi Anita,

You are correct in your assessment of the decor. My understanding is that Papillon is simply a word for butterfly and indicates the iridescent spotting found on the decor, modeled after the look of a butterfly wing.

Creta Papillon would indicate green glass, Candia Papillon would indicate a gold color and clear glass, and Cobalt Papillon would indicate a dark blue color of glass. There is also a less commonly seen Red Papillon.  You can see examples of different colors here:

http://sites.google.com/site/loetzandglass/loetz-4--from-n-to-w

There are also good examples at Loetz.com   Click on the Decors link on the lower left column and then click on the Papillon link in the Pre 1900 column. At this site you will find an example of a Creta Papillon piece having green glass, with a markedly pink iridescence on the surface.

Since the glass was produced by a variety of artists in any given factory, there can be variances in the look of a decor from artist to artist, even if they are producing the same decor.  

I have looked through some of my books, and also on the internet sites I use and I can not seem to find what I would consider to be a reasonable facsimile of this shape attributed to Loetz.  The shape of the body reminds me strongly of many Kralik inkwells and I can not seem to shake that idea off.

I will forward a copy of the image to Alfredo for his opinion...  and will post it here when I get a response from him.

When in doubt, I always defer to those much wiser than I!!!

Craig