Topic: Val St Lambert - is this Samuel J Herman ?

[paulnot]

Hi

I have this piece of glass which is engraved "V.S.L Export" and "SH 73".

It is 48 cm high by 16 cm on the base.

I had thought that SH was Samuel J Herman but, from what I have read he apparently signed SJH  - not SH.

Assuming 73 is the year of manufacture then this would be right for Samuel as he was working for VSL then.

So I would like to ask if anyone knows if Samuel J Herman ever signed SH or if anyone knows another designer with these initials.

any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

Paul

[Anne Tique]

Hello,

Would it be possible to post an image of the signature please?

I have come across it once or twice, but can't say much about it for now but I'll ask around.
The label comes from somebody who tried to be funny or sell some pieces and managed to get a stack of old labels,  used for the range of glass bricks at VSL. I have got a vase with the same label ... the artist has never set a foot inside VSL in his life, so he told me.

At VSL Samuel Herman signed SJH, I don't know if he signed sometimes different for his own works,  maybe somebody else can clear that up, but I can't see who else it could be for VSL.

[Anne Tique]

I don't know if it is an error from the auction house, but there are a few examples on the net with a similar description.

Scroll down or click details...

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/3146656_876-val-st-lambert-art-glass-vase-by-sam-herman-with-a

What I don't understand is the 'Export' as VSL exported already in the 19th C ... I have a feeling it was one of the first attempts to start saving the sinking ship, but I'm just guessing here.

I hope to come back to this with more info.

[chopin-liszt]

  I've just checked all 4 examples I have.
One, from '67 in London at the RCA, is signed Samuel Herman. No J.
The other three all have the J, although on one, it looks like an extra l on the Samuel. On the others, the J is firmly in the middle with a full stop.   

I have one Sam Herman for VSL vase, but it is unmarked. I just know for certain that it is his design.
I also have a small, unmarked pebble vase, which we have concluded is ~99% sure to be Sam, from the Jam Factory. 
So, to conclude;
Most marks have the J in the middle. But not all. And he didn't always sign things.

[glassobsessed]

While in correspondence with a friend, Sam Herman said he signed everything that he made himself. Much of his students work will have been unsigned though and of course heavily influenced by his techniques and designs.

John

[Anne Tique]

Ok thank you both for clearing that up, it just leaves the Export ciggie, but I'll have a look in my books and ask around.
I've got the feeling I've seen this vase before, Paul, was it on some site recently?

Re the label, once again, it has nothing to do with any of the decorative ranges of VSL, be it Studio, Art & Design or the regular production, up to you to leave it or not, i think it adds a bit more interest and I've left mine on my vase, even if it isn't VSL but made by Hubert Carpentier.

Just to show the label, this vase has got nothing to do with VSL, was a project made by the artist during his studies as an exam piece and somehow ended up with the same label.

[chopin-liszt]

Thanks for that, John!
So the little green pebble thing I have is in the 1% area of doubt, and probably a student piece.
I still really like it and it fits with the "loopy, paint-like iridescent swirls" stuff from that period.
My Sam design for VSL vase was cheap, is watermarked and gets hauled out if somebody dumps dead vegetation on me, which social niceties say I am supposed to stuff in water and keep in the house until they rot.

Anne, I'm really intrigued by that piece you show. I have something very strange that shape, it kind of has a vaseline-like opaque yellow colour, that manages to be shiny and opaque.

And I've seen another two odd vases that shape too... I know where they are, and they are for sale. I'll have to try to find my thing and see if you know anything about it. 

Something else Sam has said, is in relation to an american student working at the RCA for a while, Wayne Filan. He said that sometimes even he couldn't tell his own work from Wayne's. 

[paulnot]

Hi

Firstly, thanks to all for your help - much appreciated.

I have attached two photos, hopefully you can read them.  Always difficult to photograph and get a clear image.

I have just got in from work so I need to read and digest the posts!

I found it in a 2nd hand shop in Brussels.  The do sell things online but I havnt yet looked to see if this was there.

Im going to read what you have said and then come back to you

Thanks again

Paul

[paulnot]

Hi..

Wow..I'm confused now !  Not with your posts but confused with what I actually have here!

As the label is nothing to do with Val St Lambert, it begs the question as to why someone would put the label on it. 

 If I assume that the label was put on at the time of making then the piece is not by Val St Labmbert ..right ?..but made by VALART... (I'm still having difficulty in understanding exactly who and where they were located)

If however the engraving is good for Val St Lambert and the initials are indeed of Samuel J Herman  ..then why add the label ?

Like I said ..confusing for me...

As a side note, it weighs 6.1Kg (or nearly 13 and a half pounds) - a heavy piece..

Come what may, I really like it... but if you have any more information I would gladly accept it!

thanks again

Paul

[paulnot]

Hi

Earlier today I actually emailed Mr Herman... and got a  very nice reply from the great man himself!   As you can see it clears up a lot... I have just replied to him asking him for information on the VAL Factory...where and when they were operating etc.

It would appear that it was designed by someone else -whose initials were SH.

I will keep you posted if Mr Herman replies

regards

Paul

As follows:

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Samuel J Herman
To: paul
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2018 7:33 PM
Subject: Re: Val St Lambert glass - signed SH

Dear Paul ,
thank you for your enquiry. Although the glass piece that you sent me a photograph is a very handsome piece it is not made by me nor is it designed by me. I did make original pieces at VAL and designed a range called the El Dorado line executed  by the glass blowers at VAL this piece is not part of that range.

All individual pieces made by me are signed with my full signature of Samuel J Herman.  All pieces that were designed by me have my name on it but not my signature. 

Can I suggest you get in touch with the VAL factory and check with them. 

Do enjoy the piece that you have.

Best wishes

Sam