Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Paul S. on June 02, 2010, 08:33:28 PM
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Completely out of my depth here, but am a sucker for this deep blue, and thought if nothing else it might make a good doorstop. About 305mm tall, very thickly cased at the base and thinning out until almost completely disappears at the top, and very heavy. I have this rather naive notion that anything with 'wings' like this is possibly from the the Island of Murano - but other than that no idea. The base scratches are indicative of perhaps 40 - 50 years worth of age - but probaly only a guess, so if anyone has any thoughts please do let me know, and thanks for looking.
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I'd lean more to Czechoslovakia than to Murano. The base reminds me of Harrachov, although I haven't seen the that shape from them. Chribska would be another possibility.
A cry for help from Jindrich or BoBA might help.
David
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thanks David - I really had it down as coming from Italy - considered that Czech material was more likely to be very abstract and geometric, rather than flowing/arty - although looking again this one does have a reasonable element of geometry I guess. Shows how little I know :-[ thanks.
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I'll move it to Glass and add to the title to attract their attention for you Paul.
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Hi Paul,
it does not look Czech/Czechioslovakian to me.
Jindrich
www.webareal.cz/ceskoslovenskesklo
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Anne and Jindrich - my thanks for your help. However, perhaps we should move it back to Murano :) What I hadn't mentioned, and probably should have done, was that the guy at the boot sale had two pieces - this one, and a very large 'brandy balloon' shaped ornamental piece, on a twist stem (with a circular section half way up - sort of faux C17 Venetian thingy) and with very decorative trailing around the bowl - glass to die for. I looked at both, kept saying to myself over and over "I don't collect Italian, I don't collect Italian - but desperately wanting to buy them. This was why I considered the blue one to be possibly from the I.O.M........went back some ten minutes later, and of course the better piece had gone, so I bought this one. Anyway, I can live with this situation, 'I don't collect Italian, I don't.................... :cry: :cry:
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Paul, can we leave it here for a day or so just in case someone else can help... I'm sure someone's posted one of these sometime earlier so it might jog someone else's memory as well. If no joy by the weekend I'll push it back to Murano for you.
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thanks Anne - will leave it entirely up to your discretion.
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I do not know what the vase is -- sorry. I just thought I would put an idea out there and hope someone can add more. The mouth of the vase looks a lot like some of the JI Co (Murano) pieces. I've never seen casing like that, though. I've looked, but just keep coming up with their high production vases on the internet. I just wanted to throw their name in the pot of possibilities.
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Paul:
I fully trust Jindrich if he says not Czech. My initial problem was that I didn't think it looked Murano, and I still don't. Just for interest sake I've included a link to a Harrachov base, although the eBay listing doesn't attribute the piece. It also shows a hint of the Harrachov blue. The link is
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350286589450&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Anybody Murano expert care to offer an opinion?
David
PS While I was writing, a Murano expert--now don't be modest, Anita--offered an opinion. I agree the top is similar to JI but I haven't seen a base like that on JI pieces. Still, worth keeping JI (Jordan's Imports) in mind. A link to a good resource is http://gallery.blancoglass.com/main.php
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Could it be Austrian? (If that's totally and utterly ridiculous, then it wasn't me asking :pb:)
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Anik:
Any particular reason for Austrian as I don't know much (i.e. zilch) about Austrian glass?
David
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Hi David,
No, no particular reason, really. I saw a vase some time ago which was slightly reminiscent to Paul's... i.e. the flat triangular base and casing, but not the petals. For the life of me I don't remember where I saw it, or who the maker was, but it was (if my memory serves correctly) Austrian.
But then again, I don't know much about makers, so maybe I should really keep my (un)constructive guessing to myself. Sorry. :-X
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thanks Anik - you certainly can't know less than I do about a piece like this - although I think some times that there should be a law that requires makers to back stamp their wares - just to help poor souls like us :). I have immense respect for David and experts like Anita and Jindrich, and can only surmise that if they are having difficulty in agreeing on a country of origin, then attribution for this piece must indeed be difficult. I do like the monolithic image of this piece - a bit '2001 Kubrick' almost. This sort of 'Bristol blue' colour is popular with most of us, and it looks great at the moment on the window sill in the morning sunlight. I could be wrong, but I don't recall much discussion about Austrian glass on the board. My thanks to everyone for their input.
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Anik:
How Canadian! Come up with a possible suggestion and apologize. If we all had to be certain before making suggestions, then this would be a very seldom used board. The trick is to give an idea about your level of certainty, and you clearly do that. I think the Austrian idea is possible. Did you look at the link I suggested to the Harrochov piece? That might be what you saw, as there are a lot of them around, even in Canada where they are generally attributed incorrectly.
David
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I know other people have been wanting to ask: does it glow green under black light? It has the uranium look to me in the picture. That would narrow it down to about 20 countries. ;D
I am definitely not an expert. I know Murano animals as long as they have labels. I don't think that qualifies me for much. I am almost illiterate when it comes to layered vessels. My guesses for this would be JI Co, China, or Poland.
Anita
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Anita - I'm surprised you should ask if it glows ;D - it is just a cobalt blue (or nearly) with an over-casing of clear - however, being a rational person I did flick the torch on but, as I suspected, nothing. Believe your reason for asking is the slightly greenish tinge of the clear glass, which regrettably was simply the effect of the room lighting when I was taking the pictures. But 'China'.........no never, the base is too old looking for that. :)
'How Canadian! Come up with a possible suggestion and apologize' - a little harsh David?? Rather a sweeping statement, unless of course you are on intimate terms with hordes of self-effacing Canadians :). Anik and myself are rather beginners at this game, and I agree we tend to be a little over-cautious perhaps at times, in preparation for being told we shouldn't make assumptions - provenance in glass is such a minefield - but you are quite right... 'If we all had to be certain before making suggestions, then this would be a very seldom used board' - so I'm going to be positive and remain with 'Murano'.
Anik - we must adopt a new philosophy whereby we never apologize ;D
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David probably is, given that he lives in Canada too! :)
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Paul:
As Anne suggests, I am, indeed, on intimate terms with hordes of self-effacing Canadian, living in Surrey, BC. However, I should know better where to draw the line as print isn't always the best place to try and be funny. Let me assure you, my intention was not to criticize Anik, but to encourage her. If I've done the opposite, I sincerely apologize. We all make errors at times, especially about glass. My suggestion that it was Czech was tentative and based on a couple of similarities. I was wrong, but I think the suggestion moved the discussion on. We now know it's not Czech,and JI is the only real Murano possibility. But I think attribution is still an open question.
I suppose what I was trying to say was, not to avoid being over-cautious, an admirable trait in identifying glass, but not to worry too much when your suggestion isn't correct, just move on. It's the odd person who refuses to accept he or she is incorrect that causes the problem.
Perhaps I should explain that one of the best definitions I've heard of Canadian is that being Canadian means you always have to say you're sorry. The other definition going around just now is that a Canadian is an unarmed American with health insurance.
Oh no. Look what I've just done. After acknowledging the dangers of humour in print, oops, I've done it again.
Sorry!
Your totally Canadian friend,
David
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Absolutely no offence was taken on my part -- so Paul and David, there is no need to discuss that matter any further :D
Now back to the vase...
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Anita - I'm surprised you should ask if it glows
That's a little harsh; I thought it was blue and green too!
But 'China'.........no never, the base is too old looking for that
There's been a glass industry in China for a very long time!!
The trouble with hot worked glass of this type is that the pieces without any specific defining characteristics all look similar wherever they come from and many workers worldwide have spent time being trained in Murano or working with someone who has.
Jindrich only says that it doesn't look Czech to him, so I don't think it's entirely ruled out. The one thing I think we can cross off is modern Chinese.
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Well - I'm going on holiday for a month :-[ :pb: :-[ :pb: anyway, I wouldn't be paranoid if people didn't keep picking on me ;D
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Paul, I've read your posts long enough to know that you post with a smile. If you are really going on vacation, I hope you have a nice trip. I've spent some time looking for your vase because I am curious. I have a feeling it is one of those vases that might take a long time if it ever gets an attribution.
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thanks Anita - you mean to say that you actually read the rubbish I write :)....and no, I'm not going on holiday, I just felt a little p...... off at the time. You see, I'm always being misunderstood in life ;) - but you understand me, (Lustrousstone doesn't) I can tell that, shall you and I run away together ;D. You may well be correct that this is just one of those pieces that whilst impressive, will never get an attribution, although I won't mind too much, as it is very attractive, and as I have already said looks really stunning in the morning sunlight. I'd put my shirt on the fact that this is 1950 - 60 somewhere, and a good weight to hit burglars with ;D
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@Paul :mus: :24:
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Oh Anne, that's just too funny ;D :24: