Thanks everyone for your input!
Frank, that archive site you suggested is just marvelous. I found a reference to the website that used to have information about the new fake Loetz pieces, on an old Glass News from Angela.
http://www.glassnewsletter.com/010825news.htmlIt used to be here:
http://jwartglass.com/ but it seems that Jeff Weller's site had a huge crash in September and he still isn't up to speed yet.
However, the site is archived on
http://www.archive.org/web/web.php, albeit without pictures. It seems to me that the fakes referred to were shades. Anyway, I will write to Jeff Weller and ask his advice. I never really took notice because I never thought I'd see this sort of thing in anything approaching my price bracket!
Leni and B&M, I agree with you that the primary approach to collecting should be asthetic: of course we should collect what we appreciate! It's also be best excuse when you collect something that some people dismiss as awful or ugly. :wink: :wink:
However, don't forget the sense of history and the thrill of the hunt.
Then there's the sheer joy of feeling one's money slip back into the economy where it will do some good, as dictated by the invisible hand of monetarism (you know the one, it pokes you in the back and says "So what if there's nowhere in the house for it and you'll have to sell one of the kids into slavery, BUY it BUY IT NOW!")
The only problem I see with letting your aesthetics guide your purchase options is if your taste and judgment is as bad as mine! With my luck, I will spend the small fortune and it will turn out that this is a bad 70s chinese vase, pockmarked and irridesced through years of sitting in some child's sandpit! ;-)
Thanks again everyone