Author Topic: Mystery art deco bowl set. (Read 3368 times)

Anne E.B. · « **on:** October 17, 2005, 02:24:20 PM »

I've just acquired this set on my travels. Its not my usual cup of tea, but I really fell in love with it and had to have it. I think its just beautiful - so simple and elegant. I'm not sure how to describe the colour though - its a sort of peachy/pale amber. The bowl is VERY heavy (1.75kg) with a thick heavy base. There looks to be some sort of pontil mark on the base - a wide polished concave section and the centre of the bowl is inverted (see pic).
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/artdecobowl001.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/artdecobowl003.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/artdecobowl002.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/artdecobowl004.jpg

I've spent some time trying to spot something similar - including Pamela's excellent website

(watched the Televised tour of the Museum and thought I had died and gone to heaven!) and also an excellent link that Adam555 recently gave

, but without success. My own thoughts are that it could possibly be even Italian. I tend to automatically think Czech when I see these sort of items. Does anyone have any thoughts about it please?

Many thanks as always.
Regards - Anne E.B. :wink:

pamela · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2005, 06:01:19 PM »

FRENCH? this is just my first idea on your lovely set :?:
Thank you for complimenting my site Anne!

look at my unknown Drinkware and Decanters 02897 - in my opinion these are French
http://www.pressglas-pavillon.de/karaffen/02897.html
what is your opinion?

paradisetrader · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2005, 06:22:14 PM »

Very stylish Anne
Will you use it ?

Yes we get a little too used to blaming the Czechs but eventho they did export a huge amount of glass to UK, The wide dimpled base without rim is NOT reminiscent of Czech..

We tend to forget about French pressed which is often marked if you look hard enough. Search for a small "France" mark with a magnifying glass. Sometimes its easy to see and sometimes it's amazing how difficult it can be to spot.

I like this pale yellowish amber. That and the style makes me think 40s or early 50s ...just a guesstimate.

Anne E.B. · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2005, 08:40:21 PM »

Quote from: "pamela"

look at my unknown Drinkware and Decanters 02897 - in my opinion these are French
http://www.pressglas-pavillon.de/karaffen/02897.html
what is your opinion?

My set for quick comparison: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/artdecobowl001.jpg

Thank you for your help Pamela. The colour appears to my mind to be identical. The "zig-zag" shape base and stopper on your decanter is very like that seen on the bottom of the bowls. Perhaps they could be made by the same maker? - they share similar features. I can just imagine the decanter alongside the bowls. They certainly wouldn't look out of place. Interestingly enough, there are ten "zig-zags" seen on your decanters (aerial view) and ten on the small bowls. The large bowl has 12. Hopefully the maker can be identified.

Peter - I have used a jeweller's lens to look closely for a mark of any kind - without success. I've had French glass before and have been able to spot the impressed or raised FRANCE mark fairly easily - even though at times quite small. There is age related wear so it makes it difficult to spot, and its easy to imagine seeing what might be part of a signature, but I will check once more in daylight tomorrow. I don't intend to use this set and it is destined for sale at some stage. I've decided that I'm a bit too clack-handed :roll: for such a lovely set and it would eventually only get damaged, which would be a shame. I'm sure you are right about the age - and thats my feeling too.

Regards - Anne E.B. :wink:

paradisetrader · « **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2005, 05:05:10 PM »

Pamela
There is a decanter in a very similar pattern to yours in Modern Bohemian Glass p45. as part of a set with pitcher, tumblers and a stemmed drinking glass, designed by Adolf Marura and "executed" by the Kvetna Glassworks, 1955.

The description speaks of cut facets so I presume its mold blown crystal, so I don't know if it is correct to compare it. However all the key design elements are there : the cog base and facet windows as well as overall shape (except for a longer neck) and the stopper style are the same.

It would seem that the Czechs made limited editions in cut crystal before
before adjusting the pattern for press-molded manufacture. I don't know if this was always done or only at certain times and places. Hopefully Marcus will know more about this point.

It is of course possible that this rather simple design has independantly cropped up in both France and Czechoslovakia.

I note that in Anne's set there are no arched window facets in the bowl sections.

Anne E.B. · « **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2005, 12:48:07 PM »

Pamela, I thought you might be interested in seeing this. I went shopping to a local market for shoes and came back with this decanter set! Typical :roll:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/buryglass2001.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/buryglass001.jpg

I thought it looked very like the one you have on your website http://www.pressglas-pavillon.de/karaffen/02897.html
However, I think mine is more pink as opposed to pale amber and it doesn't have the 'arched window facets'. It has the "cog" base and stopper (thanks to Peter once more for correct terminology

) and the stopper is the same with five 'petals' rising to a slight point at the centre. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/bases001.jpg
The decanter has two seams one on either side. On the base is a raised circle (slightly rough in places) which is off centre. On the glasses base is imprinted MADE IN FRANCE. This was very difficult to see, as Peter said.

My reason for buying it was to compare it with the bowl and dishes because like your decanters, they share similar features. My bowl and dishes appear to be a finer quality/finish than the decanter set bought this morning and the bases are different also. The bowl as I have already said, appears to have a polished concave pontil mark and the smaller bowls have concave bases, two of which have faint concentric circles. The glasses from the decanter set have a stepped recess (apologies for not knowing correct terms) and look more machine made. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/glassie/bases002.jpg So whilst they share similar features, I am not convinced that the bowl and dishes and my new decanter set are made by the same maker.

p.s. I still need to buy shoes! :roll:

Regards - Anne E.B. :wink:

pamela · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2005, 08:51:01 PM »

it is not only that I have got two of the decanters, there are at least eighteen of these small star bottom shaped glasses - I shall have to investigate each - I am sure some of them are marked France

Anne · « **Reply #7 on:** October 20, 2005, 10:49:18 PM »

I saw three of these star-bottomed glasses in the Cancer Research shop today and they were all marked Made in France on the base. (A moulded in mark).