Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => France => Topic started by: Ohio on October 24, 2010, 06:12:38 PM
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Years ago I ran across a Deco Lamp marked on the bottom MMODEL Paris that had a Pouter Pigeon insert & last week I ran into a pair of the same Pigeons. They are polished rather flat at only 1 1/8" width, 7" height & 6" length. Within the vanes of the tail feathers (you need a loop to try & make out the marking) it reads (or it at least I think this is what appears) MMODEL France. Does anyone recognize the manufacturer? I cannot find anything on them. Thanks, Ken
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I don't know who M. Model is, there doesn't seem to be much information about this mark. These pigeons also were made in opalescent glass. The M. Model pattern that seems to trurn up most often is a very Lalique like clock moulded with two birds - I've seen these both in opalescent and colourless clear glass. There's also a car mascot in the form of a ram shown here: http://www.mascot-mania.co.uk/orphanage.html?/zwram.html&19orphan57
I suspect M. Model is likely a designer or retailer's mark. Along with G. Vallon, Ferjac, Carillo, etc. it's one of those names which no one seems to know much about... It's possible the glass was made by Choisy-le-Roi who also made Hunebelle's designs and many of the Etling pieces though this is just speculation.
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More
http://www.onlineauction.com/index.php?page=auction:view_item&auction_id=1259846&title=Vintage_hood_ornament_or_mascot%2CM.MODEL_FRANCE%2CSatin_art_glass_figure_of_a_woman_in_dress_Ca.1920%27s
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6372245
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/french-glass-car-mascot-hood-ornament-signed-m
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/rare-1920s-charles-dickens-characters-signed-m
Another clue, although they can't read, it gives the location of Verdun in France, not far from Nancy so in the right area.
http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=332882
There was a Verrerie (Glassworks in Verdun) and this link suggests the same period:
http://www.chineurdeverre.com/liste.php?cat=Appliques
As does the existence of the Rue de la Verrerie in Verdun but that could be an older reference.
As now lots of small glassworks came and went, it is never safe to attribute to another glassworks because they were known to do work for someone. Roman Glass was made near Verdun and Louis XIV had a glassworks near Verdun employing dutch glassmakers to make Venetian style glass.
More
http://cgi.ebay.fr/Lampe-vasque-art-deco-Model-Verdun-Fleurs-fruits-Lamp-/160496594278 chance for a reference piece.
Finally, a reference to last furnaces lost in 1936 in the Argonne region.
http://de-bigault.pagesperso-orange.fr/Page13.htm
As many small art production at that time was in the corner of factories this is possibly a clue. Over to someone with better French... Certainly the Bigault families glassworks would have had all the facilities to produce pressed glass.
The operation that closed in 36 was Verrerie Islettes picture http://www.communes.com/lorraine/meuse/les-islettes_55120/cartes-postales-anciennes,7.html
1907 record - Granrut (Louis du), bouteilles et cloches de jardins, aux Senades et aux Islettes (Meuse) (Might have more, not digitized yet)
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Frank & Steven I appreciate all the info. Evidently whomever they were they were producers of glass figurines for various purposes. Thanks again, Ken
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I've got a glass hood ornament of a cockatoo, 3" tall, with a 4 sided base, with the name "MODEL" near the bottom. Is this somewhat common?
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The cristallerie in Verdun was set-up in 1930, by Maurice Model, in an old flooring factory. Glass was produced for export only and mostly to USA. The factory was destroyed by bombs on 15th June 1940. A school was built on it's site and the directrice of the school is now researching. I shall point her to the thread.
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Thanks Frank for posting this information. I now know who made these birds thanks to your work. Most appreciated. Ken
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Might be worth contacting local museum as they now include Model and give a c1930-1940 date. http://www.verdun.fr/Vie-quotidienne/Culture-Sport-Loisirs/Musee-de-la-Princerie/Nouvelles-acquisitions/Du-Verre-Art-Deco-au-Musee
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Frank your work is much appreciated. Thanks for the link...its alot more confirmed info than I've seen on his operation & it brings to light the fact that his production was far more extensive than I believed. It was certainly not a Mom & Pop operation. Ken
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A school was built on top of the site and the head teacher is researching the glassworks.