Topic: Flashed and engraved 60's blue vase

[Scott13]

Hi---I was wondering whether anyone can help me with this vase?
It appears to have been flashed, which( depending upon the light) gives it's surface an almost mirror like quality.
It has a soft Pontil and the base wear suggests the 60's/70's.
The stylised flowers have been wheel engraved.
Ht 16 cms
Wt 340 gms
Any opinions re it's identity would be great.
Thanks Scott

[Paul S.]

I'm going to suggest Caithness from the 2001 catalogue, possibly from the 'Images' range  -  the colour is about right, and the wheel engraving is very similar although I can't find this exact design in Mark Hill's book.         If it is Caithness, then it won't have been flashed.

Of course, I could be very wrong

[Paul S.]

had also meant to ask the meaning of 'a soft Pontil'  -  new one on me

[Scott13]

Hi Paul, thanks for your comments.
I'm pretty sure it's been flashed-- but I could also be wrong!
On the rim there's a very fine ( slightly iridescent) demarcation line between the clear inner and cased outer.
A similar line can be seen at the base.
The glass outer surface also seems to be unusually reflective-- almost mirror like.
And the casing appears to to be extremely thin.
I'm not sure whether these are the only features you'd expect to find on a flashed piece.
Perhaps you could tell me?
I did think of Caithness but the rims and bases aren't quite the same.
A soft Pontil--- a bit like the Caithness one?
Scott

[Lustrousstone]

Caithness vases don't have pontil marks - they have cut and polished rims. Any base marks are from cooling not from being on the pontil iron.

[Paul S.]

right then, not Caithness  -  has some similarities in a visual sense, that's my excuse.

sorry, still can't visualize this 'soft pontil' - do you mean it has some remains of a pontil scar - or is there a depression where the scar has been removed?         Might it help us if we could see a shot of the base?

[Scott13]

Hi-- it seems as if I've used the wrong term re the base. It does look as if the mark , if you can call it that, has been formed by cooling glass.
I'll take a picture of it in daylight tomorrow, it might even show the fine demarcation line I mentioned.
Is there anything I should look for, to confirm that it's been flashed?
Scott

[Paul S.]

any cutting or engraving will obviously cut through the flashing, so this should help to determine whether or not.
You could scratch the base with a steel file  -  that should cut through any flashing too, if present

[Scott13]

Hi--- here's the shot of the base----it's the best I could do.
Hopefully, you'll also be able to see the edge of the blue film of glass.
Thanks for your suggestion re establishing whether it has or has not been flashed----I'm going to think about it---long term!
Scott

[Ivo]

I think it is iridised not flashed. In flashing the piece is submerged in a very liquid coating; iridised glass is held in the fumes of (traditionally) tin chloride and hydrochloric acid , producing a metallic sheen. Alternatively, the piece is sprayed with such a mixture, or it can be painted on. These procedures are much used in countries like Mexico, Turkey and India; much less so in western Europe or the US..