Topic: id request for opalescent vase.

[Paul S.]

thought I was getting immune to buying outside my comfort zone  -  but having walked around the fair for some time trying to forget it, just couldn't go home without this one.
As far as I'm aware not Jobling, or Lalique and I'm new at this sort of material, so unsure of where to go next.        Height is about 9.25" - 235mm, and has a definite Czech. 'bird bath' looking base, so might be eastern Europe somewhere.         Age wise I'd have thought somewhere in the 1940's, or perhaps a tad earlier, and I think the flowers are intended to be tulips.      If anyone has any ideas please let me know and thanks for looking.

[Ivo]

Wonderful piece by Barolac/ Libochovice. 

[Paul S.]

you're a genius Ivo  -  immense thanks for being so quick and helpful.    It is indeed a beautiful piece of glass.        I've taken a big liking for this material  -  it certainly shows (in a cabinet) more effectively than cut glass I think.

[Mosquito]

Hi Paul,

As Ivo says, it's Barolac, but made by Inwald, not Libochovice. It's no. 11282 in Inwald catalogues. As far as I'm aware the connection to Libochovice is that they re-issued some Barolac patterns (probably not from the original moulds and not in opalescent) in more recent years. Your vase is certainly an earlier Inwald example.

See here for a bowl in the same decor:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,46548.msg261448.html#msg261448

Steven 

[Paul S.]

Steven - sincere thanks for your additional information, especially the catalogue No.      Quite a coincidence to come so soon after Meegs posted the bowl - and you can certainly see the design connections - even down to the surface texture on the foot rim.     What sort of date would you put on this vase please?

[meegs]

Gentlemen,
Well,  I had just about lost my green with envy hue from seeing the photo of Stevens opalescent vase and now you're goading me again!
I'm off to find solace with a dark chocolate bar.
Cheers
meegs

[Paul S.]

I've now seen this vase on the Sklo Union data base CD, and can confirm Steven's information regarding the pattern No.       For those who have the CD, it appears under the heading of .........Rosice - Export of Barolac - No. 11282.       There are many other designs/patterns included in the same catalogue, and although the drawings are all shown as black outlines on a white background, it may well be that many of these were produced in opalescent glass.           Anyway, I'm really hooked on this stuff, it shows quite well in the cabinet, and I'd especially like to find one showing nudes.
P.S.   I've either lost out or missed in some way or other, one or two pieces over the last year or two Meegs - and dark chocolate has never filled the void  -  I still grind my teeth over the ones that got away.        

[Mosquito]

Hi Meegs,
If you're feeling envious, I probably shouldn't show you what I've just bought 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360442769536
(my apologies for showing off!).

Paul,
The Rosice production is later and, as far as I know, wasn't available in opalescent. I'm confident that your vase is Inwald production and dates from either the pre-war or early post-war period. The design itself was introduced in the mid 1930s.

Until fairly recently it was thought that opalescent Barolac was only made pre-war, however, it came to light (I think thanks to Marcus) that opalescent was still offered in the late forties/ early fifties.

Steven

[meegs]

Well done Steven, the tulip vase is indeed very lovely in the opalescent.
I have seen very few examples of good sized pressed opalescent glass so I'm trying to be patient waiting my turn!

Paul, I think one of my greatest glass desires is also an example of opalescent nudes! There is something about the way the light plays through the glass that works so well with the lovely curves of the nude. One of my favourite pieces in the house at the moment is an amber Barolac bowl with four mermaids swimming, in the right light the mermaids shimmer and almost appear to be in motion.
Cheers
meegs

[meegs]

Good evening Gents,
My turn to show off!
You could have described my behaviour as not dissimilar to a rat up an aqua-duct when I spotted this in a charity shop today! Only an edge was showing beneath a heap of grotty plastic and cheap ceramic platters and clearly by the date on the price sticker it had been there for more than 3 months at a price equivalent to my morning coffee....
It was absolutely filthy and has a little water staining but it still made my day.
Cheers
meegs