Topic: id request for jade green uranium vase.

[Paul S.]

Probably a long shot, I suspect.
Is jade the correct name for this colour? , and certainly translucent.       Grecian in shape I would say, about 10"/255mm tall, and with a snapped pontil scar remaining which has, I think, been very slightly fire polished.     Interior surface is glass-shiny smooth, but outside is acid etched matt      Difficult to gauge wear on a foot rim such as this, but definitely not made yesterday, and could perhaps be quite old.     Not, I don't think, an example of C19 chrysoprase (definitly no signs of any gilded design remaining).                 Quite weighty for its size - and needless to say no marks.     Very strong glow under the u.v. torch.       I did wonder about Jobling, as they did produce jade, but really no idea and just guessing, and could be from anywhere.          Grateful for any suggestions - or even a real attribution  -  and thanks for looking

P.S.   With the pontil mark, does that make this completly free blown  -  or is it blown into a mould initially, and then finished on the pontil rod? with mould lines removed carefully  -  it certainly looks a one piece construction.

[Bernard C]

Paul — Worked by hand to something approaching the final shape.   Then blown into a water lubricated wooden final shape mould.   The steam allows them to spin it — so no mould lines.  It also acts as an insulator, protecting the wood from burning.   Frequently used moulds are set into the floor with automatic lubrication and pedal open and shut control, so the glass blower can do it all himself.   Less frequently used moulds are used free-standing with the glassblower standing on a little platform and an assistant lubricating and operating the mould.   It all happens very quickly.   I've seen both types in use at Formia and other glassworks on Murano.   It's fascinating.

Not Jobling.

Bernard C.  

[keith]

Hello Paul,guess what I've got,posted it sometime ago,18 inches tall,broken and slightly polished mark and to my surprise,after seeing your post,uv reactive,I did wonder if it was Moretti,satinata? is that the right word,mine is also glossy on the inside :huh:

[Paul S.]

Bernard - many thanks for your reply.     Whilst it may well be a quick process, it sounds quite complex, and no doubt requires great skill - as you say it is very fascinating, and a method I had never been aware of.           In fact I did wonder if it might have been Venetian  ish  -  bearing in mind the snapped pontil.     Might this be something from the 1960/70 period?
Keith - my knowedge of this sort of thing is almost non-existant, so cannot offer anything of any use in the way of agreement.      I bought the piece because it glowed in the charity shop ("your never alone with a u.v. torch"(*)  -  parody of the Strand (fags) advert) - but then realized I hadn't a clue what it was :pb:   

(*) or should that be schizophrenic :24:

[scavo]

I just got myself a UV torch and hoping never to be alone again!
Dare I ask how much was paid? For the vase, not the torch!

[Paul S.]

the vase cost me £6, which is a bit more than I would pay normally for something about which I know almost nothing.    Sometimes it is worth buying a piece if there is the possibility of genuine interest, and a vase with this much u. always offers potential, although it may well go back out to the charity shop since it doesn't fit in with the areas that I do collect.       On the other hand it is of some real use as a flower vase, so very practical  

[scavo]

I suspect it might give you a profit on ebay.

[Paul S.]

I appreciate the suggestion, but I don't seem to have the time or intelligence to venture into ebay.      On the other hand if someone cares to be my agent...........

[Bernard C]

Paul — Your vase was "turn mould-blown", at least according to Jackson, but I have no way of assessing the accuracy of her terminology, nor whether her terminology was universal, European, British, or just local to Whitefriars.   See topic Glassmaking on Murano at the Formia works for photographs, an explanation, and references.

Bernard C.  

[Paul S.]

thanks Bernard  -  will give this a better look after my Sunday morning chores, and certainly looks very useful.    In fact I'm better with pix than words, a lot of which I don't know the meaning of  -  but dare I suggest that you were probably correct in avoiding the word 'parison', which is now seen as anachronistic (may also be spelled as paraison), and not used by modern authors.      I understand that 'gather' is now much prefered by writers (inlcuding Ivo).