Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: albglass on February 28, 2011, 04:24:31 AM
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I was so sure this vase was Bohemian, because of the shape of the vase, because it was unsigned, and because the deep intaglio engraving is within a medallion. But then another glass collector said he thought the engraving was Scandanavian, so now I'm not sure at all. There is a large polished pontil (as shown) on a highly polished and edge faceted base, top, and sides. It's 8" tall, quite heavy, and "tings" when struck (not the bell tone of lead crystal, but much closer to the sound than the dull thunk of most glass) if this is useful information. Can any of you tell whether this is indeed, a Scandanavian vase?
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Or German, or Hungarian - or even English.
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Ivo--you should know! This tells me that none of the characteristics of this vase is definitive enough to determine country of origin. Thanks much for the information.
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It looks to me as if the base is completely polished flat - there is no pontil mark at all!
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based on the style of engraving and not looking at the blank, I'd guess it was influenced by Von Eiff/ Ortlieb or anyone of that school. The sweet angelic touch points at 50s/ 60s. But I could be 180 degrees off.
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I guess the picture of the pontil is a bit deceiving--the shiny area in the photo is the pontil itself--quite large at 2.25" across. If you look closely, the immediate area around the pontil is narrower at one side than the other, as the pontil is not perfectly centered. The base is 3" wide and is perfectly flat around the concave pontil. Then the edge is cut out at a 45 degree angle in 12 sections, cut back at close to the same angle, but further in, and then rises to the 12 panels of the vase body. Except that on the front of the vase, the panels are interrupted by the large oval medallion where the engraving has been done. Hope this clears up the question of the pontil, thanks!
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Not really, :spls: it still looks like a completely polished flat base. It does not matter that there are "sides" around it - that's just because the thing rises up from the base.
There is no evidence of the use of the pontil (the iron rod, which leaves a mark or scar on the base, which is then sometimes treated in different ways to disguise it) remaining.
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Darn, guess I'll have to try for another closeup picture with the base tilted so you can see the concave circular area within the flat base which is the polished pontil. There really is a very large polished pontil in the center of the flat base, it's just that the camera doesn't pick it up well because the pontil is so highly polished it blends in with the surrounding base. These clear glass pictures are quite a challenge for a poor photographer. I'll try a different shot.
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Tipping the vase at a slight angle, so that you catch edge of the concave dip might help - but looking at the top picture, I can sort of imagine it.
I was wondering if the engraver simply used an old bit of glass to engrave on. The style of the vase seems completely incongruous with the style of engraving.
Or (complete speculation here) given how far advanced in style and design the Czechs were, could it perhpas be of Czech origin that such a modern-looking image has been found on an older-style vase?
(albglass - just for clarification of glass terminology, a pontil is the iron rod the hot glass is held on while it is being worked on. A pontil mark or scar is what you find on a bit of glass. I may get shushed, I go on and on about this, 'cos it drives me absolutely nuts...... but I think I'm starting to drive others nuts by going on about it. :-[ )
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I think I'm starting to drive others nuts by going on about it. :-[ )
Someone has to bang the drum Sue and it's great spectator sport too.... :wsh:
John
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What a sweet vase albglass, I really like it....a little girl with her teddy in the garden watching a butterfly....she has obviously finished watering the flowers as her watering can is on its side.....I like the sweet innocence of the subject.
I haven't a clue who made it, but I would like to know, so I am adding this piece so that I get updates.
I have just started to become interested in engraved glass, and had a fascinating talk with Lesley Pyke at the Glass Fair. Maybe she will look in here and come up with some suggestions for you.
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Rosie - if you want to get notifications on topics without having to say something, go to the top of the "page-bit" of the thread, on the right hand side - there is a group of about 4-5 tabs - there's one which says "notify" - just click on that. You'll get a box which asks you if that's what you mean to do, click on yes.
That way, nobody knows you're lurking. >:D
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Thanks for reminder about the pontil vs pontil mark--I knew this, of course, but there I was getting sloppy about the terminology. I get the same reaction when folks use the terms etching and engraving interchangeably, so I appreciate how irritating it can be!
I am not thinking that the vase is older than the engraving. The vase would have been made for an engraving, otherwise the large oval would have looked quite strange with nothing on it. And these old shapes continued to be made, even up to today, as you mentioned, Sue. I have other wonderful (fortunately marked) examples of 1960s/1970s Central European glass that use glass designs from prior to the mid-1930s. I wouldn't think that having a post WWII design on a pre-WWII shape would be that unusual, which is why I initially thought that it was from that area. But I have seen traditional shapes being used today by Scandanavian companies, too (although not this particular shape), so I still can't be sure whether this vase is Scandanavian or Central European (and may never know!).