Topic: Can anyone identify this colourful vase?

[kate b]

Hi all. This is my first posting on this forum.
I recently starting collecting glass..just small inexpensive pieces at this stage...mostly colourful bowls and vases from the 60s and 70s.
My latest purchase is this very colourful large vase. I have searched the internet and cannot find anything similar to give me any ideas of the maker and the age of the vase.
The vase is extremely heavy! The colours are bright and sharp. There are no makers marks on the base.
If anyone could help me identify the maker and the age I would be very grateful.
Kind regards
Kate

[dirk.]

Hi and welcome Kate  
It would be great if you could provide a bigger picture of your vase (~600 pixel). A shot of the base
and the top rim is always quite useful. Does your vase have a matte polished base?
Regards,
Dirk

Here´s our help topic on resizing and posting pictures:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,6522.0.html

[kate b]

Hi and thank you for the prompt reply.

I have attached some additional images...I hope these are better...
The vase is 10.5cm high and aprox 23cm wide at its max.
The base is shiny and not matt.

Thanks you for your help.
Kate

[dirk.]

Excellent pictures, Kate. Sorry I can´t help you much with your vase... 
I´ve been asking for the base finish to see if it will confirm my suspicion, that your vase
might be chinese production. Until the last years the matte base was a good pointer
towards this origin, but they´ve caught up with quality.
Hopefully someone else will know a bit more...

[Max]

I'm not quite sure of the height of yours Kate, but it reminds me of this glass they sell on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Glass-Ware-Castellani-Art-Retro-Vase-Murano-Orange-New-/380326194761?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Decorative_Accents_LE&hash=item588d352e49

The above is just an example - see their other vases that they have for sale, and those they've sold.  There's a similarity to yours...and they're often bigger than average.

Note that the glass in the link above isn't *from* Murano and is probably from the Far East imho - see their listing for details.

[KevinH]

Looking at the link Max gave, isn't it fascinating that Murano (as well as Millefiori) glass is apparently a "style" originating in Italy. Hmm. Millefiori actually originated in Egypt many centuries ago (or perhaps even in another place and even earlier?) although it was "rediscovered" in Murano. Maybe "Murano glass" has become a "style" thing, but it always sounds a bit odd to me!

There was an interesting discussion a while ago about a Seguso Brazil paperweight where the issue of whether something made outside of Murano, but in a "Murano style", should be offered for sale as "Murano".

Anyway, the Castellani item that Max linked to seems to be from the general range of items that can be viewed in an Australian "Castellani" site and in their own online shop. They have (as at today) a paperweight with canes which I would bet good money indicate a Chinese origin. But the website front page is all about a history of Murano glass! Maybe I have got it wrong?

[kate b]

Thank you all very much for your replies. It does seem that my vase very well may be of Chinese origin..which is of course a shame but I do still like it very much!
Like you I have seen these murano 'style' vases for sale on eBay and always presumed they were either made in the east or they were being listed from people (maybe like myself???) who couldn't find out the origin to their piece...there seem to be quite a few American sellers of this 'style'.
I will certainly be looking closely at all future purchases!
Regards Kate

[obscurities]

But the website front page is all about a history of Murano glass! Maybe I have got it wrong?

The site talks about the history of Murano and Murano artisans, but never once states the glass they sell is made in Italy....  It is a masterfully crafted description that would lead many less intuitive people to thinking they are buying Italian glass which is limited production......

My tendency would be to believe the weight is Chinese if you think it is........   :thup:

Craig 

[TxSilver]

Kate, your vase reminds me much of some of the vases made by Huajun or Zibo of Shandong Province, China. I couldn't find your exact vase. Many of their vases are very heavy and the base glass is fairly well done. The filigrana usually has some problems in the execution -- too many bubbles, not quite parallel,wavy, or incomplete. I noticed the filigrana of your vase has a good many bubbles.

I do think your vase is Chinese. They often use the wrinkled look that the white glass of your vase has. If your vase is Chinese, I'm sure that we will run across another like it soon.  :or: