Topic: Caithness Studio Butterfly Garden vase, who is the designer?

[Littleblackhen]

I have a very busy Caithness vase which I think is part of their studio collection.  It has a lot going on, with millefiori in the glass, and cut and sandblasted or engraved decoration to the outside.  The millefiori form flowers, and the cut decoration is leaves, then there are butterflies whic are either engraved or sandblasted, I am not sure, maybe someone can tell me

It says Butterfly Garden, then what I think is IF/JM CG 98 then underneath that it says 573.  Can anyone tell me who the designers are?  My guess is Irene Farquhar for the IF but I am not sure about the JM?  Would the 573 have any relevance, or does it just mean this is the 573 rd vase made in this pattern?

It is aprox 7 inches high and 7 inches across at its widest point.

I can't find any record of this vase online, is anyone able to tell me more about it please?

[bfg]

if designed by Irene Farquhar then maybe engraved / sandblasted by  John MacDonald?  IF/JM

[Littleblackhen]

Thank you for that suggestion.  I have tried googling John MacDonald but the only reference to him that I can find is in a thread on this message board, referring to him working at Caithness in 1976.  I wonder if he was still working there in 1998?

On the Scottish Glass site there is a list of designers and the only ones I can see with the initial JM are James MacBeath and Jimmy Manson, so it maybe it could be one of those two.

I am very interested in the number 573, as other vases in the studio collection were only made in limited numbers eg, 15 or 25, and with this level of work involved in it, I wouldn't have expected there to be over 500 made, or if there were I would have expected it to be recorded, so I am wondering if the 573 can be referring to something other than the number made.

[chopin-liszt]

I think the number might refer to its place in the the total number of studio pieces produced that year, rather than the "model". 

[chriscooper]

Had this a few years it's a big lump of glass at 2.5kg it's been on here and other sites with no joy. Didn't want to sell it or give it away because it was bugging me. Too many similarities for these not to be connected same initials but mine has first names too same year same number 573 or maybe S73 ?