Topic: Signature ID Request - Gorgeous Cut Glass Vase Looks European

[dasis72]

Hello!  I have this gorgeous tall crystal cut glass vase.   There is a signature found on top of base.   Please see pictures.   It weighs approx. 4 lbs, 12 5/8" tall x 4 1/2" opening.   It has amazingly clear glass with many different cutting motifs.  Doesn't look like American Cut Glass but the base wear would indicate it's pretty old and it has at least a 4 second ring to it when tapped indicating high lead content.   I really tweaked the contrast on the signature to make it stand out as much as I could.  Also attached a picture of the base wear with a 40x digital microscope.  Any help in figuring out this ID would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!
Rebecca

[bOBA]

Hi, welcome aboard. This style of cutting is not my area. All I can say is that there seem to be some similarities to what Czech GMB member Jindrich has described as, "Typical Bohemian cut had been invented in 1929 by Mr. Prostrednik and is known as pattern PK 500.
Since that time up to now is reproduced and used with slight modifications. "

If you research Podebrady, the factory that first produced this style of cut and made it popular,  in conjunction with this PK 500, you may find some interesting results.

http://www.cs-sklo.cz/ceskoslovenskesklo/ Jindra's site may have Podebrady catalogues.

good luck researching. It looks like an excellent piece but whether it is a special piece from 1940 or 1990 I do not know enough to say. Sadly, I do not think Podebrady is still going. Some excellent cutters migrated to the US in the 20's and 30's and continued trading. A signature, on a big piece like this ought to be traceable as signing this kind of cut glass at all is highly unusual in my experience and indicates an unusual piece of glass. I don't think I have seen any signed examples actually, most are not. (If, it is indeed Czech which is not certain but seems possible, at least
to me). If another GMB member prefers another origin that may be worth looking into, until then Podebrady researches will at least give you an area to start with, good luck, be warned, glass research is addictive!

Robert (bOBA)

[dasis72]

Robert,

Thank you so much for all the information!  I will indeed look into all you recommended and yes I agree, glass research is addicting.  You should see my library of books!  I don't have many resources for European glass/czech etc. which frustrates me.    I'll let you know if I find out anything.  I have bought and sold a lot of glass pieces and can usually (not always) tell a quality piece by the clarity and cutting and also the way it photographs and of course other factors as well (outside of art glass which still ends up upside down for me). 

You are fantastic!