Topic: Clear round vase with white swirls?

[mrs vulture]

HI, I have one with a bright red stripe and one with a mid blue stripe      Cheryl

[Otis Orlando]

Bowl . . . Erm . . . Vase . . ?  Whatever it is, I must say it looks very nice.   I have looked on Ebay GBarfoot and I am definitely confused as to the originator.  There is a good possibility that they were bought in Woolworths.  It is rather unfortunate that I can't go and ask them.  No buttonfluff,  the swirls on mine feel like they are melted into the glass whilst when in it's maulten state.  The swirls do go to the top but only reach 1.7cm before the base line.  I have attached pictures of a similar bowl/vase that bares resemblance but however has a different finish on top and bottom.  The swirls on the red vase/bowl do not reach the top but,however reach the base into the concave polished pontil.  As you can see the pontil is totally off centred to the base.   You can actually feel the swirls and physically see that they stand prominent only on the base nearer the pontil.  I must say that the clear bowl/vase, especially paying attention to the pontil, looks very similar to the base of other Whitefriars pieces I currently have.  When you look through the pontil the magnification of the top becomes smaller and also the pontil is more central.   I hope this info. can be of help.  Thanks to those that have contributed to my post.  Time and effort is surely appreciated.  There is so much variations of this particular piece and makes it difficult to identify.  Just to let you know buttonstuff, mine is clear, just poor lighting.  :24:

[Otis Orlando]

Hi Emmi, I have looked at the one on your website under wannabies and do see similarities.  The only difference and concerns appears to be the base area.  In your picture the base is flat. No.15: TRAILED GLASS .  On my clear trailed vase the pontil is polished but on the red trailed, it is machined and uneven within the pontil area and then polished.  It is extremely hard to determine who made what.  

[chriscooper]

Saw one of these with purple trailing about 4 or 5 years ago for a tenner at a carboot only to see them in Woolworth's a couple of weeks later for £5.99 in Mauve, White and I think? Blue trailing, pretty sure the one on Emmi blog will have a ground out polished pontil beneath the paper label. If I remember David Fletcher acquired this one to try and prove once and for all they are not Whitefriars, has they were appearing regular on ebay and buyers were being duped into paying good money for them thinking they were Whitefriars. Trust me I have handled both and as in per Richards comparison photo on the blog there really is no comparison. It is just a cheap and cheerful modern imported piece of glass but as long as you like and didn't pay too much then enjoy it for what it is.
Not sure about the Red one in your photo though.
Chris

[vidrioguapo]

Most of us who have commented on here have seen and handled these Woolworths vases.  They all have an indented pontil and the one on my blog does too and shows the edge of it to the right of the label.  Although they display well enough, they are not at all like any of the Whitefriars trailed vases and on my Wannabee blog, there are photos of almost all the shapes in trailed vases that were made by Whitefriars.  I have no idea what your red with white trailing vase is but I do know it is not Whitefriars.

[Otis Orlando]

Hi all,  Just to make it clear if I have not done so.  Initially I would never of thought that these would be Whitefriars. There is every possibility that they were originally brought from Woolworths.  All I am trying to find out is the originator (not were they were brought) and the possible age.  I am now aware that they are common, especially the red one posted, so surely one would of thought that someone would be able to provide a positive lead.  It is only because it had been mention by GBarfoot, Cheryl and johnphillips. Two had already confirmed it to be brought from Woolworths.  I do not shop in woolworths and have not the slightest clue as to what they sell.  Are we saying that woolworths would not sell products from companies such as whitefriars? I honestly dont know.  I posted the two vases on Whitefriars and it was definitely confirmed that they were not whitefriars.  So basically I am still left in the dark  :pb: They are simple not complex  and beautiful in there own right and whoever made them should in my opinion receive recognition for such a simple and wonderful design. The value is none important, and I certainly will not be selling these as an option.  All one can say, is thank you for your interest time and effort.  It is most appreciated and hope that someone will come up with a more positive lead.    :thup:

[vidrioguapo]

Masses of modern "art glass" is currently imported from Poland and the Far East.  Much of it is sold in Marks and Spencers, British Home Stores, Habitat, TKMax etc etc.  ...and Woolworths before it closed down. Also many small independent 'interior" shops.

Christine has already said it is likely to have been made in Poland, and I agree with her and these particular vases seemed to be retailed solely in Woolworths.  I certainly didn't see them elsewhere, although I suppose it is possible.

As the glass industry in Poland is vast, it is most unlikely that the originators can be pinned down. 

[Lustrousstone]

Mass-produced items made for a specific retailer are nigh on impossible to track down because they don't appear in catalogues or websites and unless you find one with a label you can't even tell what country they are made in. Poland, Romania, Taiwan and China are just a few of the good bets.

Woolworths went out of business last year, so no one shops there any more  

Just read what Emmi said and I agree with her.

Polish glass tends to be better quality. M&S have been buying from Krosno for 40 years or more

[vidrioguapo]

"Imported for Woolworths plc" is on the label. Nothing else to indicate which country it was imported..  Odd, I thought country of origin should always be on a label? The TKMax glassware has Made in China on their labels.

[chriscooper]

Hi all,  Just to make it clear if I have not done so.  Initially I would never of thought that these would be Whitefriars. There is every possibility that they were originally brought from Woolworths.  All I am trying to find out is the originator (not were they were brought) and the possible age. 
 confirmed that they were not whitefriars.  So basically I am still left in the dark 

Just to make it clear if I have not done so. Well why did you post them on isit Whitefriars I have already told you they were definitely for sale BRAND NEW for £5.99, 3 or 4 years ago in Woolworths so it's more than a possibility that they were originally for sale in Woolworths. So now you know they are not Whitefriars, not very old, not worth much,  that just leaves who made them. Probably mass produced in China or Poland for the bottom end market, thrift stores etc. hence the £5.99 price tag.
Chris