Topic: Unusual Hyacinth Mottled Glass Vase with Pewter Decoration - French / Bohemian.?

[Paul S.]

quote........................"I can certainly fit 3 fingers into the neck".......    yes, but Ivo meant three at the same time

It's attractive - and surely cannot have been made or intended as anything other than a bulb vase, but perhaps not a successful design.

Are the roots the main attraction??  -  I'd always thought the bloom to be the primary source of interest  -  so that's just rubbished all the ceramic, porcelain, vitro-porcelain and terracotta examples then, plus all those beautiful opaque designs in glass.

Have to say that I'd never heard of the word nixe, but Undine looks great on the frontispiece of my Limited Editions Club volume of the same name  -  I wonder if she'd come collecting glass with me some time.

[Greg.]

quote........................"I can certainly fit 3 fingers into the neck".......    yes, but Ivo meant three at the same time

I'm not sure what your implying  Although i've gone right off my custard creams. 

[Patricia]

Alright you squibbling kids, is it or isn't it....
No, it is not a hyacinth vase and yes, it was made by WMF in the 1960s is the general thought.
(Also see Andy McConnell's 20th Century Glass page 20)

Most of us bulbvase collectors had one and then had to get rid of it again when the German collectors set us straight.
It might look like a bulbvase, it might work as a bulbvase but WMF has never made it as a bulbvase and for us that is the end of it.

At the moment there is another WMF so-called hyacinth vase being sold on the German Ebay. The owner has cleverly added 'vase' to the listing as well and that is what it is...a vase. See here:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/WMF-Glasvase-Hyazinthen-Glas-Vase-Hyazinthenglas-Jugendstil-Ochsenblut-Rot-/291105362922?pt=Glas_Kristall&hash=item43c73b53ea

As for the maiden, that is a new one for me. All the ones I have ever seen were without.

Patricia

P.S I still have to get rid of one, anyone?

[Greg.]

Thanks Patrica, for your informed opinion and good shout Ivo. That's certainly answered a lot of questions. 

I guess the lesson with this one is that, if it looks like a bulbvase, works like a bulbvase, its not always a bulbvase. 

I wondered about the date of these slightly. Glancing Andy McConnell's book, he seems to imply the vase in the same colorway, has an earlier sticker, which was used mainly before 1939 and briefly after 1945. Is the general consensus therefore that these vases were produced up until the 1960s period...?

Many thanks all. 

[ju1i3]

Greg, I'm afraid I don't know anything about the dating of this vase or manufacturer.

I wouldn't let it not being an "official" hyacinth vase stop me from growing a hyacinth in it. I use all kinds of unofficial vases and containers. Also opaque ones that don't show the roots (some of which are "official").

[Patricia]

Greg, I checked with my German friends today and in their opinion your WMF vase is indeed made in the 1960s, may be even in the 1970s. So not Jugendstil, not Art Deco but Retro. It could be a throwback of something similar they made once upon a time.
But apparently the type of glass tells all, typical 1960s I was told.
Hope it helps.

Patricia

[Greg.]

Thanks for adding your photos Julie.  I feel inspired to go out and purchase a few hyacinth bulbs!

Patricia, many thanks indeed for following up with your friends, its much appreciated. Its nice to get a comprehensive identification. The 60s period date would also explain the remarkably good condition.

Since getting the WMF attribution, I did manage to find a few other examples, in similar, although not exact decors, with applied pewter work. Given the similar nature, I guess would also fall within the 60s/70s timeframe.

My grateful thanks to all. 

[flying free]

Julie they look lovely   I cannot get mine to grow in vases - no patience.  Mine are all white and in the ground and currently lining the path to the front door.  I love the smell of hyacinths.
m

[Paul S.]

there are several white hyacinth blooms in the garden here - and I couldn't remember if they had a perfume, so have just stuffed my hooter into the clump and they do have quite an intense fragrance which reminded me of a cross between vanilla and of lily-of-the-valley - maybe their perfume is more intense in the evening.
I think anyone who collects glass can't help but seeing these vases on occasions - I think for the first time I found the 'Perfection' shape in recent days - although I'm sure they're common.             This one is a rather dingy brownish amethyst, with reasonable wear, so I'm assuming some reasonable age especially as the design seems not to be a modern shape.         It has two seams and a mould finished base.

If you haven't seen Patricia's upside down blooms, they're well worth a look - amazing how green fingered so people are    

[ju1i3]

Paul, do you have a pic of that vase? I'm not sure which one you mean and I'm curious.
thanks