Topic: Lila Bowl - VSL? Murano? Czech?

[stephan]

Dear Members of GMB,

so here is a bowl my mother-in-law gifted to us. And somebody on Facebook suggested it might be Val Saint Lambert. Another one said, every VSL Glass is signed. But I could not verify both. Do you have more insights?

Before you propose, it "might be japanese" (which happens A LOT). Please only say this if you are quite sure it IS Japanese or Chinese. Why? I am living in Germany and in all my time I had A LOT of Czech glass (which is always sold as Murano) in my hands but NEVER a positively identified Japanese or Chinese glass. It might be, because Czechia made good quality glass with very low price just 200 kilometers away.

Still: I don't know much about VSL.

Oh and: Happy New Year's Eve 

Stephan

[NevB]

I can't help with a maker but this one is on 20thcenturyglass.com, sadly with no definite identification, I assume yours is the same. 

https://www.20thcenturyglass.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=477_275_293&products_id=1464

[ahremck]

Stephan I would be extremely dubious about a VSL suggestion.  I have 9 VSL Items and all are really clearly marked by engraving or sandblasted marks.  Only my Luxval moulded vase by them has a label - but it has 'VSL BELGIQUE" moulded into the base as well.  The best is the engraved signature - I suspect wheel engraved on theis 100+ years old vase by them.  I believe the chance of you finding a VSL unmarked is vanishingly small.

Ross

[Lustrousstone]

Only one of my four confirmed pieces pieces of VSL are marked (and that is pressed) but the important question is did VSL use neodymium glass? Not that many factories did, so I would concentrate on that rather than on form

[NevB]

There are neodymium glass bowls similar to yours on Ebay but also this one attributed to VSL (not confirmed).

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165391899869?hash=item2682201cdd:g:1cwAAOSwA99iNf3I&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoI1697bDXIC4bXoGeQrUt2fsLzHfEAkiY8aasIodwFOUDonB99w0QnMd3RwGdKMS9aRF0pjDKhiMIoh39%2FofVLr1UPw4QcTtD5o0BSG81%2BN8FI%2B1kMpIus8k4pXhHwsIWdwnuV4s8Bt85jv4HY2iRrw7zHhmjziO8rXOUa9s1%2FB0dNJanekPyEdB9%2FiwDD6uYC7YT5vu2zdsrMePr1c%2FQXc%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR67Yw9CtYQ

[stephan]

Thanks for all your replies.
First of all: Yes, it seems VSL made this kind of glass. My mother-in-law also has this piece here. Not marked, but I found it here with a sticker of VSL.

Also: Sticker seem to be common in a certain period. I found a PDF that was showing them.

But this one has neither. So I am not  sure.

[Ivo]

VSL 1960/70ss. I have three pieces all unmarked.

[flying free]

Obviously not a definitive but the linked one here
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/val-st-lambert-freeform-alexandrite-neodymium-bow-311-c-26245d2b6d#
 has a polished pontil mark and doesn't appear to have a bevelled polished edge to the base.  On your  photograph yours appears to have a bevelled polished edge to the base and no pontil mark. Does this make a difference or did VSL use both?

m

[stephan]

VSL 1960/70ss. I have three pieces all unmarked.

You seem to be quite sure.

[chopin-liszt]

  Ivo Haanstra, author of "Glass Fact File a-z" and "Blue Henry: The Almost Forgotten Story of the Blue Glass Sputum Flask". A very knowledgable and dedicated glass authority, Stephan.
If Ivo is sure, you can be sure.