Topic: Thick crackle glass vase with "bubble pattern" alexandrite? art deco?

[dorian_graye]

Hello.  I'm hoping you all could help me identify another mystery piece of mine.  This one seems to be rather old and maybe from the art deco period.  It is lilac in color or alexandrite.  The crackle texture is both on the interior and exterior of the glass.  I'm not really sure how to describe the pattern.  The base is ground and polished and has a great amount of wear.  It measures 7" inches tall and 6.5" inches wide at the mouth.  I was thinking that it may be French, but I really have no idea.  I've never come across a piece like this.

[Paul S.]

Can't help you with specific provenance, I'm afraid, but the surface moulded pattern I would describe as honeycomb  -  the sort of cell shape you see in a bee hive.    The colour I would suggest is sun purpling..........magnesium dioxide which was used as a decolourizer, when exposed to the suns rays over a long period of time will turn the glass a pale purple/amethyst.

[dirk.]

I´d say the purple is intended... However - if I remember correctly, I´ve seen this piece attributed
to Pierre D´Avesn... in which case I dare say: Congrats! 

[dorian_graye]

Thank you both for your replies. If the attribution is correct, that is very exciting. Especially for the price I paid. So, the color is or is not original?

[Lustrousstone]

The colour looks like neodymium. Check it under a fluorescent or halogen light. It should turn pale blue/green.

To achieve that degree of sun purpling, it would have had to had been subjected to quite a lot of UV, i.e., a very sunny window sill for a long time.

[Paul S.]

which of course would be more than feasible for an item, like this, that has some substantial age.          Forgive me, I'm not trying to support my own - probably wrong - comments, but just to point out that there's no reason why this might not have had a sunny disposition for a long time      I do have a few pieces of 'crackle' glass, and I also rather like the effect, so I'm  :mrgreen: on this one.   Congratulations, nice vase whatever the provenance.

[Lustrousstone]

It's feasible in the sunnier spots in the USA. In the UK, most Victorian glass barely gets beyond pale lilac grey, even with a 40 year head start on this. It is also possible to use high concentrations of manganese to deliberately create a good purple of course.