Topic: Opaline Box ?? Or Blei Kristal ??

[antonizz]

Hello everybody!!

I've bought this glass box on a fleemarket in Holland.

The sticker on it says:

  "Cristal Blei"
     "MAGIC"
"BOEMIA TIPIC"

So, according to the sticker, it should be Bohemian Leadcrystal.

I just can't find anything on the internet that look anything like it,
except for these opaline boxes.

I hope somebody can help me with this.
Also I'd like to know the value of it (approximately).


Thank you very much!

R.Antonis

[Paul S.]

Hello  -  I suspect Ivo is the person more qualified to answer this question, but in the meantime.....

I could be very wrong, but have a feeling that descriptions such as  -  'opaline'  and 'crystal glass'  suggest very different types of glass, and I would have assumed that opaline did not contain any lead oxide (or at least not appreciable amounts)  .............  although believe lead oxide is added to clear glass, usually, to improve the refractive properties and make it easier to cut.    Full lead crystal usually contains something in the region of 34% lead oxide - although lesser proportions are quite common I believe.

It's always possible that your jade coloured box has the wrong sticker - this can happen.            As an opinion only, your box looks possibly to be an item from a woman's trinket (dressing table) set.

If you hold the box up to a strong light, does the transmitted light show a slight orange or sunset glow  -  this is usually one of the properties of opaline glass.
Very nice box by the way

Very much regret we don't provide values on the GMB -  the value of any piece of glass is a very personal matter, and with the quantity of members I suspect you would end up with many different values, which would be confusing  -  sorry if that sounds a bit negative  -  your best source of values would be auction catalogues, both on line and paper examples by visiting auction houses.

[flying free]

could you post a clear photograph of the label please?
It appears to have an additional letter on the left and the right of the label.
Thanks
m

[flying free]

It's possible the Romanians call Bohemia Boemia I think looking at Google translate.  And the word tipic also translates from Romanian.  Not sure if that would make it Romanian glass but quite possibly.
Or maybe Bohemian glass retailed in Romania through Magic ?

m

[KevinH]

Hi Antonizz,

I had not noticed that you had posted two threads for this item, but a reply by "m" to the one from 6th Sept (in the Bohemia, Czech ..." forum) alerted me. I have deleted that 6th Sept one as this one has the replies.

[antonizz]

Excuse me for replying so late, I was on holiday and the internet wasn't working so well..

1)  I don't have another picture of the sticker.
     The two additional things on the side of it aren't letters,
     they're 2 glass symbols.

2)   Holding it to the light doesn't really work. I see no difference.
      ( I also have to other opaline glasses, with opaline stickers, but they
        don't show any difference to the light neither)


3)   I just don't understand why I can't find any other box that IS from blei kristal or kristal blei.

       

      Is this piece so rare ??     

      Plus, how old could this be?



      Thank you very much!!!

      R. Antonis

[flying free]

it's not Blei 'K'ristal - it's 'C'ristal  Blei.

And I think that label is Romanian.
If you don't mind I think it would be good to change the title header to Blei Cristal  not Kristal.
Also it's possible that it means 'Bohemian type', that is, it's similar to Bohemian glass.
In fact I would have said possibly Italian glass or Japanese as my other thoughts to be honest.

Mm, actually that has reminded me, I remember having a vase with Cristal on it and it was Taiwanese.  And at the time Ivo mentioned that the only country that used the term Cristal was France I think.  However having done a translation in Romanian on gogle it works for Romanian translation as well. 
So, it's possible that it is a Taiwanese glass piece retailed in Romania perhaps?

m

[antonizz]

I really have no idea, honestly.

[flying free]

this footed glass appears to be a similar opaline colour to your box. 
I'm really sorry but I don't know anything about the item in question.  I thought it might be French however the seller thinks it might have come from the Czech Republic but isn't sure.  It looks quite old though.
But it is a similar colour to your box.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ornate-Gilt-Green-Glass-/281590228440?hash=item419015e5d8:g:2uQAAOSw2s1U0~y0

And this appears to have exactly the same metal work as your box and same colour but just a different shape
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trinket-box-in-opaline-with-bronze-frame-/272388942909?hash=item3f6ba56c3d:g:TTMAAOSwPCVX5ren


m

[antonizz]

Yes, that's why I thought it was opaline.

But an antique dealer in my town told me,
opaline should, when holding it in front of the light,
shine through... a little orange.

However, I have more opaline glasses with stickers that say OPALINE, (see pictures)
and they don't do this neither.

So it's a mystery to me.
This whole opaline glass thing is a mystery for me :p

Thank for your help anyways!!


R.Antonis