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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Murano & Italy Glass => Topic started by: TxSilver on February 16, 2010, 09:57:23 PM

Title: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = possible fake signature
Post by: TxSilver on February 16, 2010, 09:57:23 PM
Now that the auction is over, I thought I would ask people about the nice sommerso vase at http://cgi.ebay.com/SEGUSO-MURANO-ART-GLASS-VASE-CIRCA-1960s-SIGNED_W0QQitemZ310197543422QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item483936e1fe
When I first saw it, I thought it was Cenedese. The signature on the bottom surprised me. Did Seguso VdA make vases like this one? It is very nice, just not a form I associate with Seguso, but sommerso vases are often a mystery to me.
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay
Post by: Artofvenice on February 16, 2010, 10:43:37 PM
I can suppose that the engraved signature was added later (may be just for the ebay auction???  8) )
For me it looks as a generic, very common sommerso vase, more or less mass produced in the last 40 years...
Imho of course.

Alex

Murano glass gallery www.artofvenice.com (http://www.artofvenice.com)
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = POSSIBLE FORGERY
Post by: Cathy B on February 17, 2010, 01:14:12 AM
Hi - changed the subject to reflect the identification. There's nothing wrong with saying that in your opinion, the signature looks to be faked.
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = possible fake signature
Post by: tam bam on February 17, 2010, 01:21:00 AM
The glass looks just horrible to me!  EEK!!!! :spls:

*Sorry I hope no one bought this on the forum.  No offense.* 

tam bam
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = POSSIBLE FORGERY
Post by: TxSilver on February 17, 2010, 01:42:07 AM
Hi - changed the subject to reflect the identification. There's nothing wrong with saying that in your opinion, the signature looks to be faked.

I had wondered about this. The Seguso VdA signatures I have seen have been toward the edge of the base, instead of big, front, and center like this one. But there's a lot I haven't seen. The seller was offering a couple of birds that look like they could be Seguso VdA (or Cenedese -- I'm not sure) that has a huge Seguso Murano on the bottom of at least one. He seems to be able to find a lot of signed Seguso and Archimede Seguso pieces. He even found a signed A. Seguso bianco nero bird. I've handled a lot of bianco nero pieces, but have never been lucky enough to find any signed ones. I guess I should buy his?? :D

The auctions that I am writing about are under his completed listings. It would be good to read some opinions about the signatures.
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = possible fake signature
Post by: glasslover on February 17, 2010, 02:01:19 AM
I'm glad this topic came up. Although I am quite the novice collector, I formed the opinion a long time ago that some of the signatures and attributions from this source were a little dubious.
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = possible fake signature
Post by: TxSilver on February 17, 2010, 02:23:34 AM
I checked a few more of his recent things. Item 310200116751 is beyond questionable. I've never seen any Venini signature written like that. Item 310200116066 is a very generic fazzoletto and ugly to boot. It's a shame that we can't see the worn Barovier & Toso signature on it. I would need some real convincing on this fazzoletto.

I look at eBay animals a lot to try to figure out some attributions for the zoo. This seller has helped me a lot. Many I thought were probably Fratelli Toso, AVeM, or maybe Ferro. I've looked for a couple of years, so was glad to see the Archimede Seguso signatures on the bottom of some of his offerings. Saved me a lot of work.  ::) (Note: they are still not in the zoo.)
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = possible fake signature
Post by: obscurities on February 17, 2010, 02:40:38 PM
I have seen their listings for years......  and it has been years since I put any stock in what they say about a piece of glass.....  

I am always, shall we say skeptical, when a seller finds as many signed pieces of glass as this one does....

Some of the signatures are obviously OK, but far too many are obviously not OK, and in some cases they have been blatantly fake to those that would know any difference....
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = possible fake signature
Post by: ardy on February 17, 2010, 09:58:18 PM
This signature appears totally NOT RIGHT. I have been chasing Seguso stuff for a couple of years and never seen anything like this.

I think if this goes the way it is travelling there will be a solid market in engraving machines for glass sellers, on reflection could be an opportunity for other companies who could copy most of the real signatures and put them on the bottom of your piece for a small fee! Or better still sell a metal template that your engraving machine can follow.

Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = possible fake signature
Post by: obscurities on February 17, 2010, 10:53:33 PM
11 of 15 Italian glass pieces they sold that you can still view are "signed". The only one I personally believe to be real is the Tagliapietra piece with a factory  label.... There is a signed "Seguso" in an asymetrical design of clear amber and green with a polished base and a Seguso sig. If it is not Brazilian or chinese glass I will sell my entire collection of Italian....  
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = possible fake signature
Post by: TxSilver on February 18, 2010, 12:53:24 AM
I've been watching the listings for a couple of years. There seems to be an escalation in the number of signatures lately. If the sigs on the two cranes are forged, the birds have been pretty much ruined. The entire lower field of the bird is scarred by the etching. To me a forged sig is the same as a crack when it comes to damage.
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = possible fake signature
Post by: kane_u_pain on February 18, 2010, 04:26:36 AM
Eek. I wouldn't liken that to a Seguso Sommerso piece. Nice piece of glass, till it was destroyed.

Sorry if I am out of bounds on that comment mods.
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = possible fake signature
Post by: ardy on February 18, 2010, 06:53:32 AM
To me a forged sig is the same as a crack when it comes to damage.

Absolutely Anita but the problem is trying to sort out what is a genuine signature and stupid scratchings from someone with a desire to 'pull' a sale. As we have all agreed there was limited bits that were signed by the artist and more likely by the apprentice.

I wonder if the manufacturers go to acid etched it would help in the future?
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = possible fake signature
Post by: obscurities on February 18, 2010, 08:23:46 AM
Steuben used a Fleur de Lis acid stamp as one of their marking methods, and the forgeries of the stamp are rampant. They also used an acid stamp block letters, and you had best know the glass, or really know how to tell the bad stamp forgeries... 

Acid stamps actually make it easier to mass produced forged pieces once you cut a stamp, and today that is pretty easy....  Make the mark in a program and provide a pdf to your favorite stamp maker like Office Max or Office Depot.... 

Actually, I bet the Dremmel owners wish that more acid stamps were used.... then they would not have to work on their Dremmel penmanship so hard...       :o

Craig
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = possible fake signature
Post by: johnphilip on February 19, 2010, 07:43:19 AM
Hi Craig the Fleur de lis? was used by Stevens&Williams as Fredrick Carder came from there to Steuben maybe some of the pieces are S&W . by the way i believe Khancats glasses are Steuben Fredrick Carder . another thread .
Title: Re: Teardrop Vase on eBay ID = possible fake signature
Post by: obscurities on February 19, 2010, 07:53:18 AM
Usually the bad Fleur de lis is seen on glass that would not be either company, but usually represneted as Steuben.... at least on this side of the pond....

What glasses in what other thread?

Craig