Glass Message Board

Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Unresolved Glass Queries => Topic started by: UKGLASS on October 18, 2011, 03:24:52 PM

Title: MYSTERY MARK ö RNo?7?7?
Post by: UKGLASS on October 18, 2011, 03:24:52 PM
Just when you think you have seen it all something comes along to prove you havnt.

I have an obviously vintage non-english candlestick made in pressed (poss lead/crystal) glass. On the glass sconce is a mark which at first appears to be just a regd number but on closer inspection I discovered the following

ö RNo?7?7?    so I have a umlaut o followed by what appears to be a 5 figure Regd number.

I accept that regd numbers were given to some imported items but I have never seen one with an additional mark before it. The only reference I can find as a trademark is for Oetel Glass, initially of Czechoslovakia then after 1945 Germany.

Can anyone throw any light on this or am I way off the mark.

Thanks in advance
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: Ivo on October 18, 2011, 04:20:02 PM
Oesterreich - anything starting with an o umlaut would be Austrian. Think Riedel...
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: UKGLASS on October 18, 2011, 04:26:04 PM
Hi Ivo
Thanks for the input but on my search about the umlaut according to Wiki it is either Scandinavian, German or Austrian. The mark was def used by Oetel who were initially czech then later German.
You know sometimes when you just get that feeling you arnt going to solve something :huh:
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: Frank on October 18, 2011, 05:24:57 PM
You have got it right although they were not known for pressed glass, they were making crystal, whether lead or the Bohemian Crystal I don't know.
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: dirk. on October 18, 2011, 06:33:39 PM
... but "No" wouldn't be the right abbreviation in German language?
You'd expect "Nr" for "Nummer"...   ???
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: Ivo on October 18, 2011, 07:37:03 PM
The whole thing makes no sense.
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: dirk. on October 18, 2011, 08:04:06 PM
Any chance of a picture of the signature?  :)
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: UKGLASS on October 19, 2011, 11:45:12 AM
Well I agree the whole thing makes no sense.
Company's such as Jules Lang of London would import items from the continent and register them here in the UK, items can be found with English Registered Numbers which on the listings show as registered by for instance Jules Lang, when in fact the glass was made overseas. So the registered number mark would be in English ie RNo.......what is strange here is that in all the items I have seen that have been imported and registered with a UK No I have never seen the originating company's trademark or any other mark alongside the Rd No.
It was only that Oetel Glass used this mark that made me wonder, I do have to agree with Frank they were not known for their pressed glass (although they did produce it) and their early glass tends to be of high quality.
Unfortunately I cant photograph the mark, I struggle just to read it as it is so worn and on a curved surface so a photo would be impossible.  What I can say is that it is a 5 figure number which would date the item between 1884 - 1888 which looking at the style and the wear on the base of the item seems about right.
I suspect this is one of those mystery's I will never solve, I just wondered if anyone else had come across anything similar.

Regards
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: Ivo on October 19, 2011, 12:32:14 PM
The chance that your  O-Umlaut is the Oertel mark is unthinkably small. It is not their style, not their technique, not their thing. The possibility that this design reg is actually from Austria, from Germany, from Canada or from elsewhere is much larger.
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: UKGLASS on October 19, 2011, 12:53:19 PM
I would probably agree with you Ivo...I threw it in there just a  possibility...was it a trademark or something else?  Canada?...no way.  Austria/Germany/even Sweden I would agree are more of a possibility.  I have to say I have never seen the Umlaut used as an identification for a country so I still suspect its actually a trademark, and probably not Oertel...but that still brings me back to my original query ...Why?  Ive never in 30 years of collecting seen any mark precede a Rd No. I guess Ill have to burn even more midnight oil, and I suspect to no avail.

Thanks to all anyway.
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: Ivo on October 19, 2011, 01:32:57 PM
You could ask the good people at ÖMAK of course - the Österreichische Museum für Angewandte Kunst in Vienna.  http://www.mak.at/jetzt/f_jetzt.htm
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: UKGLASS on October 19, 2011, 08:17:00 PM
This will make you smile IVO. In desperation I did an image search for antique glass candlestick and found an exact pair being sold on a U.S. Antique website. I was hoping the had identified them but the listing just stated they were

English 19th century $550 the pair!!  :rah:

No reference to the reg mark.

I have been in touch with Seigmar in Germany and he couldn't come up with anything. I think Ill giv up on this one.
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: rosieposie on October 20, 2011, 09:34:52 AM
Never say never......have you asked the seller if they have looked for a mark,  because if they have one,  it might be a bit clearer than yours, and they may be prepared to photograph it for you.  I find the Americans so friendly and often ask them for help.....go on,  have a try.  :sun:
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: Frank on October 20, 2011, 08:06:54 PM
Hartmann gives ö marks as circa 1920. Also mentions that they often did things for Novy Bor school but school would not be registering designs in UK.

Perhaps a trip to Kew and find out what/who the trademark was for... you have one digit and a date range to start with. ^-^
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: UKGLASS on October 23, 2011, 02:39:25 PM
Hi Frank
lol...I love your optimism....actually I was considering buying a decent eyeglass or even an ultra red scanner just to solve this one...lol.
Thanks to everyone for all your comments. I will let you know if I solve it
Title: Re: MYSTERY MARK
Post by: Frank on October 23, 2011, 08:07:39 PM
There is always an answer one-day... I have been waiting 20+ years to solve some puzzles.