Topic: I have a barolac fruit bowl and am wondering what it's worth

[Bo_mastar]

Just wondering if anyone can tell me how much this is worth Thanks in advance!

-Jess

[chopin-liszt]

Hi, welcome to the gmb. I'm afraid values are not something we really discuss - they are highly subjective and depend soley on what somebody is willing to pay for it on the day of sale.
If you want to get an idea, have a search for something the same on an auction site, and see what it goes for, however, that doesn't mean you will get the same for yours.

[Bo_mastar]

OK I understand. Is there a way I can narrow it down? I looked on ebay but couldn't find one that looked like this. Thanks for your help.

[chopin-liszt]

I found two bits of Barolac on ebay - but they are opalescent glass, which may carry a small premium. They are being sold by a very highly respected glass dealer who knows his stuff.
It may also depend on the scarcity of the design on yours - I can't actually make it out from your picture which is a bit small (when getting an image ready for posting here, you should use a compression factor so it can be "blown up").

http://pottery.shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=barolac&_sacat=870&_dmpt=UK_PotteryPorcelain_Glass_PotteryPorcelain_China_SM&_odkw=&_osacat=870&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

[Bo_mastar]

I just took another pic with my camera but it's to big a file to upload here. Would it be ok if I email it to you?

[Mosquito]

I found two bits of Barolac on ebay - but they are opalescent glass, which may carry a small premium.

Actually opalescent Barolac carries a BIG premium. Opalescent tends to make several times the price of these clear frosted pieces. As with a great deal of Czech moulded glass, many of the Barolac designs were in production for decades. A lot of this clear frosted was made during the communist era and beyond. At present supply exceeds demand so they aren't fetching a lot. Having said that, if yours is marked, or has particularly nice mould quality it could still fetch more than average.

Your bowl is the water lily pattern, no. 11344. In opalescent, I'd guess it could make up to around £150, but in clear frosted, maybe only £20-£50 depending on mould quality and finishing. People are asking a lot more on BIN prices on ebay for these clear pieces, but take a look at the results - no one buys them. If it were mine, I'd hang onto it, at least for now...

In my opinion the Barolac to look out for is that in unusual colours. Black with gilding occasionally turns up, seemingly made for the French market (all 4 known examples were found in France and have the 'Tchecoslovaquie' acid stamp). I've also seen a deep blue opalescent, much darker than the usual opal. Just recently I was lucky enough to acquire three small bowls in green opalescent - something I've never seen before from Barolac.

Steven

[Bo_mastar]

I think mine is clear frosted. But hey I've learned a lot. Thanks for all your guys help it's been real.

-Jess

[chopin-liszt]

 :thup:

Thanks for the correction, Mosquito!
I have to confess to only being interested in Opalescent pressed glass myself - although I do have a pink frosted (anybody here who knows me and my normal reaction to "pink frosted" please do not have an apoplexy - there are exceptions to every rule) Jobling Rose pattern ceiling lampshade.

[Ivo]

In olden days, when the internet was young, the standard answer to any question about value would have been

$100

[chopin-liszt]

With no mention of the actual nationality of the $, obviously. :usd: