Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: hillkat on December 07, 2010, 11:04:35 AM
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Hi All
This week I bought these six items to re-sell so obviously would like to describe them acurately. The auctioneer has (cautiously?) described them as being Murano Style, and the yellowy-green one as "in the manner of Dino Martens", a jug very similar in shape to the pink one, I saw an Antiques Roadshow also being a Dino Martens so got intrigued and thought they were worth a punt as I didn't pay an awful lot of them but think they are rather beautiful.
I realise there are many reproductions around and they don't have a great deal of wear although being display rather than functional items that may explain that.
Any help in attributing a designer, if they are vintage pieces etc would be great appreciated
Many Thanks
Kathryn
As there are six items and I've taken a couple of close ups I've put them in photobucket album, hope that's OK.
http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i260/hillkat/Glass/
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Hi Kathryn, I could be wrong, but none of them look like Murano to me, in fact most if not all look like they could be Chinese or maybe Polish, very modern, and could possibly be found in your local TK Maxx store...
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Thanks Wayne
Oh dear, that was my concern still they are pretty so hopefully should get something back off them, thanks for looking
Kathryn
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hi Kathryn,
I agree with Wayne's assessment,
out of interest I'd love to know the auction that came up with that description.
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Hi Martin
Thanks it's good to have a more than one opinion. I feel like I'm dobbing on the auction room! I go there a lot and have a good really relationship with them but it was our local auction room near Stratford Upon Avon :)
Cheers Kathryn
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It sounds like the auction house was "dodgy honest," which to me amounts to keyword spamming. They were being dodgy in mentioning Murano in a way that put the word into the buyer's mind without committing to the attribution. I can't see why Dino Martens was even mentioned. None of the pieces even remotely resemble his designs. I would put a big caveat emptor on the auctioneer. Seems dodgy to me.
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I Agree, I think that all these Items look 'T K MAXXish' in style!! I must admit that I do go in there often, but in my defence it is just so that I can see what kind of Glass they are selling that I know for certain will end up either on here or on Flea-bay!! LOL!!
Happy Yuletide & Solstice Blessings,
John
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Hi John
Thanks, I do sell on "Flea-Bay" (slightly unnecessary I feel) but the part I enjoy most about my work is research, which is why if I when I hit a brick wall myself, I seek the opinion of those more knowledgeable - for glass I turn to you guys and have done so for many years and always found the info useful and informative. These will be appearing on Ebay but obviously now I won't be listing them as Murano or even Murano style but I do need to recoup my expenses. If they don't sell I'm sure they will be appreciated as Xmas pressies anyway.
I've never been to a TK Maxx store not having one close by and googling such items has not turned up a lot so maybe you could help me out. I have seen retro / reproduction style glassware in the likes of Ikea, Asda etc etc but usually these are of obvious inferior quality, quite light weight and thin etc but these items are very thick with several layers of glass and silvery, glittery (whatever the term is) inclusions. Also they weight between 3 and 6Kg. Would cheap glass in a high street store really weigh that much and have so much apparent work gone into them? Maybe they do but I've not seen any such item in my travels.
Many Thanks
Kathryn
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Hi Kathryn,
Sorry if my tongue-in-cheek remark offended you, it was never intended to, I do use the auction site to buy items on occasions, but never to sell as I prefer to do that face to face, but hey! each to their own!!
Now, down to nitty gritty!! I am quite fortunate in that I live very close to T K Maxx, Ikea, M&S and several other large outlets, and I must say that I am often suprised and impressed by the size,Weight and Good Quality of Glass sold in such outlets. It is this that leads to my comment re "I know for certain will end up here or on Flea-bay......" because it will often confuse even "experts" (a category I do NOT include myself in!) as to the origin!!!!
Warmest Wishes,
John
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Thanks John
The weight and quality did have me puzzled a bit so appreciate the clarification there.
No worries about the flea-bay thing, no offence taken (well maybe a bit, but I'm over it now :) )
I also prefer selling face to face but Ebay suits my M.O. at the moment as I don't drive and am a single parent so lets me works whenever I can so its pretty handy.
Many Thanks and a Happy Yule
Kathryn
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eBay is a great place to sell and often a great place to buy. Many people here sell (or used to sell) on eBay. Most people here probably buy on it. There are a lot of good deals mixed in with the not-so-good things.
Really just wanted to write to give you a salute. Being a single mother is hard work and long days. My hat is off to all mothers, but particularly single mothers.
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This sort of glass is also found in home decor stores and gift shops, and yes the quality is often good; large and weighty seem to feature too, and sometimes the design can be a little off (it just doesn't quite cut it).
I have seen retro / reproduction style glassware in the likes of Ikea, Asda
These places pile em high and sell em cheap, but I don't think they are actually trying to sell anything reproduction. They often have stuff designed specially for them (to the current year's in colours and styles) to the best quality for the price they want to buy them for and sell them at. Much as Woolworth's did in the past for glassware that has often now become collectable 4050 years later.
What you have bought is modern decorative glass; maybe you will get your money back, maybe you won't. Postage costs are always an issue with heavy items.
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Thanks for your comments guys, much appreciated. Kathryn
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glassware that has often now become collectable 4050 years later..............and here's me thinking that the ancient Egyptians only made glass beads ;)...........but I guess given another 1000 years and they will be worth an arm and a leg.
These pieces are an area I know zero about, but must admit the few examples I have seen appear to be good value for money if you like large 'decorators' pieces - don't object to merchandise from a country with a very dodgy commercial ethos - and are prepared to condone a carbon footprint in which you could hide the Bismark And if all of that isn't enough to put you off, then the auction house certainly seems to be sailing close to the ethical wind with their descriptions. Look what happens when they get it wrong and mis-sell a real antique at way below real value - litigation.
There now, bristles standing on end ;D
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Ive been to 3 or 4 auction houses West London and thames valley including Chiswick, there has been
4 or 5 of these in everyone for the last several months.
I would think someone bought a container load from somewhere ? Prob far east.
Some are much nicer than others.
:fc:
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Pauk - LOL :) As for the mis-selling something that did happen there last year they sold an item for £100 ish that fetched £18K in another auction!! Think it made the trade mags, was a rather embarrassing for them I imagine. Quite often I'll buy things for just a few pounds that fetch good money unexpectedly so its worth the risk on occasions and if nothing else is a learning process.
Andy - that's very interesting! When I asked the auctioneer if they had all come from the same person, instead of the usual reply of from a deceased estate, or someone's down sizing etc he said they had been sent in a "container" through the post, not bought in in person....hmmmm I see a picture emerging here - wonder if I'd have any recourse from the auction house if they know they came of a boat last week (probably not I should imagine)
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Quite often I'll buy things for just a few pounds that fetch good money unexpectedly so its worth the risk on occasions and if nothing else is a learning process...............uhmmmmm - think I should stick with you Kathryn.....I'm all in favour of making extra money for very little effort - let me know when you next visit the auction ;D. But as you say, if nothing else it is a good way to learn. :)