Topic: 3 new glass pieces - much ID needed CAITHNESS MURANO?

[wrightoutlook]

I was at one of my sisters' houses yesterday for a get-together and she showed me her three new glass purchases, all bought at an antique show organized by a group of women from a nearby village.

The blue bud vase we know is Caithness, due to the label (if it's correctly applied), but any help as to when it was made, where, and by whom would be greatly appreciated. It's about 5 - 6 inches high with a nicely finished-off, slightly concave base.

The "comically ugly" (her words) red thing might be a giant ashtray or a candy dish, but who knows. I thought it might be Murano, but don't know. It is very, very heavy and thick. Is it Murano? Can it be dated? Factory or artisan? The base is flat and smooth and clear.

The purple "flower basket" (again, her words) is lighter in heft, but also seems Murano, although I don't know for sure. Can this be dated? Factory or artisan here as well? The base is flat and smooth and clear.

Any help in identifying the three pieces is greatly appreciated. The Caithness bud vase was the "costliest," but not outrageous. The other two items were "wonderful bargains" - again her words, not mine.

The blue bud vase is on a dining room window sill.

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3909
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3908
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3907
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3906

The purple basket is on a glass-topped living room table. Those are three Selkirk paperweights in the corner of one image.

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3900
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3905
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3904
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3903

The red item is on a runner on the dining room sideboard.

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3902
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3901
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3910

Thanks for any help.

[Sandra]

Chalet Art Glass of Canada did a lot of pieces similar to the red dish.

[wrightoutlook]

Thanks so much Sandra for the heads-up about Chalet Art Glass. I researched Chalet on the web and you're keen-eyed and spot-on about the red bowl. Turns about to be an oversize ashtray specifically made for cigar smokers.

Now if can just get a frame of reference for the "purple basket" and some information about the Caithness bud vase.

[Pat]

The Caithness one is fairly common and they were making them up until recently I'm sure. I've had many of them pass through my hands.

[wrightoutlook]

Thanks Pat. Much appreciated.

[Cathy B]

Regarding the red bowl, Chalet may be right, but don't forget that lots of other manufacturers had similar art glass ranges. See p. 127, Fifties Glass, Leslie Piña, for an Erickson catalogue page showing a green dish not unlike your red one.

Were you looking at the item on the Michel Blais site?

[wrightoutlook]

I did look at the Michel Blais site as a result of Sandra's excellent commentary. There's an exact match for the bowl as being Chalet. At the moment, I have no access to the book by Pina mentioned. But thanks for the comment Cathy. Always appreciated.

[David E]

Just one point here - I once spotted a genuine Flygsfors bowl here purporting to be Chalet...

[wrightoutlook]

Question for the experts. Would all true Chalet be signed? Or would it be typical of the work of many glassmakers? Some are signed; some are not, with no real rhyme or reason to the pattern of signatures.

[David E]

I don't think so. I have no idea how prolific they were either. But I've seen various pieces attributed correctly (with label) to Bohemian, Murano and Scandinavian, that all look similar to Chalet. Rather a thorny subject, these freeform bowls! :?

Chalet always seem to be a little more extravagent with the working of the glass.