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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: David E on April 24, 2006, 02:19:35 PM

Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: David E on April 24, 2006, 02:19:35 PM
Bring out yer bark...

As we seem to have a run on bark-textured glass, I thought I'd drag this one out to throw further examples into the mix.

It's got an iridescent oil-on-water (Carnival) finish (most evident around the base) with a creamy interior and measuring about 7" (18cm) tall. The base is ground flat and the top is irregular in shape.

 :shock: click to zoom :shock:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/dencill/bark-vase01-t.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/dencill/bark-vase01.jpg)

Top View (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/dencill/bark-vase02.jpg)
Base View (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/dencill/bark-vase03.jpg)
Title: gardaloo!
Post by: Ivo on April 24, 2006, 02:47:33 PM
Just when you thought you'd seen it all. Congratulations, David, that must be the ugliest vase I have ever seen on this board.
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: David E on April 24, 2006, 02:48:48 PM
:D Well, not pretty but I'm sure I've got something worse... :lol:
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Frank on April 24, 2006, 07:45:22 PM
They date to about 1890 and were made in UK, I used to have a marked one and managed to find a reference too them, I wrote it on a piece of paper which I kept in the vase... sold it 15+ years ago. Naturally I cannot remember who it was now. They come with red, blue and green base colouring and always with creamyish exterior and sold by a London retailer. The moulds were made/based from/on branches.

They are not so bad in the flesh Ivo.
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Della on April 24, 2006, 07:52:45 PM
I must be really weird :oops:  :oops:

I love them. They're right down my street :lol:  :lol:
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: David E on April 24, 2006, 08:02:08 PM
And I always thought I was the weird one, Della :lol:

Frank: can you confirm the date of 1890. I would like to know more on these - very intriguing.
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Frank on April 24, 2006, 08:11:22 PM
Just going from my rough memory, it was definitely pre-1900. The reference was in a book - but I had to sell my entire glass library in 1992 so no idea which book it was in. There was not a picture but the description was spot on. Sorry I cannot remember the name.
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: David E on April 24, 2006, 08:44:11 PM
No problem, I was just a little surprised it could be dated so early – I had 1950s onwards in mind!  :shock:
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Bernard C on April 24, 2006, 09:38:27 PM
Quote from: "Frank"
Just going from my rough memory, it was definitely pre-1900. The reference was in a book - but I had to sell my entire glass library in 1992 so no idea which book it was in. There was not a picture but the description was spot on. Sorry I cannot remember the name.

The most likely publication in 1992 was Manley.   Please would someone lucky enough to own a copy check.

Bernard C.  8)
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: David E on April 24, 2006, 10:27:32 PM
Quote
They come with red, blue and green base colouring...

Just one point here; this one is clear glass. If you look at the base photo (which is totally unmarked, BTW) you can see the interior. The reddish colour gives a false impression.
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Frank on April 24, 2006, 11:55:51 PM
Quote from: "Bernard C"
most likely publication in 1992 was Manley.
Bernard C.  8)


I don't think it was, I think visually but even those eyes are wearing out (ya ya ya), I think something more of encylopaedia. If it is Manley I would not have been easily satisfied.
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: heartofglass on April 25, 2006, 07:29:08 AM
It's not in Manley, have just checked (lucky enough to own a copy! :D )
Anyway, I agree with Della-I like it too!
The 1890s date fits in very nicely with it's 'rustic' texture & the iridised finish, both major trends in glass at that time.
Can't say I've ever seen anything like it;but I would have bought it if I had!
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Frank on April 25, 2006, 07:32:32 AM
The red is the nicest.
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: glasswizard on April 25, 2006, 07:51:39 AM
Having read this thread and seen the name Manley, I knew I had a book with that name. Turns out not to be the one. Mine is just a small spiral bound book published in 1968 by Wallace Homestead and features the collection of C C Manely, Brierley Hill, England. The color photos are quite nice and 361 pieces of glass are shown. Unfortunately the vase under discussion is not shown.  Terry
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Glen on April 25, 2006, 08:09:55 AM
I can only add that I have never seen anything like it in my life.

It certainly is unusual - I'd like to look at it "up close and personal".

And yes, I checked Manley too. Nada, as the others report. I can't think what book it might have been, Frank.

Glen
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Frank on April 25, 2006, 09:04:09 AM
Unfortunately I have no list of the books I owned then but it could have been at a library or in a bookshop.

They do seem rare, I have seen less than ten, one red, a couple in green ground and blue ground ones. I expect they were a limited production and expensive as a lot of work went into them.
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: David E on April 26, 2006, 10:05:17 PM
Just a quick update:

Glen is kindly posting the photo on wwwcga web site to see if any Carnival Glassies can ID this.
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Glen on April 27, 2006, 08:04:42 AM
OK, well I have posted a photo of the vase and I have received two comments. One was along the lines of "this is familiar but I'm not sure what it is". The other suggestion was (and I'm a bit hesitant to say this  :oops: ):

it is Whitefriars and they made many different colors in this form

Glen
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: David E on April 27, 2006, 08:21:28 AM
:lol: Better not say that too loudly!

Not sure what to say about that: is it someone misguided by the WF bark texture, or is it someone who knows more than we think?! :D

Neve rmind, it's interesting to see it got some response. Thanks, Glen.
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Glen on April 27, 2006, 09:11:08 AM
Quote from: "DenCill"

Not sure what to say about that: is it someone misguided by the WF bark texture, or is it someone who knows more than we think?! :D


Well I was assuming the first....but because I know nothing (nothing) about WF, I couldn't say. But I do know that this forum is EXPERT on WF.

Glen  :lol:
Title: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Glen on April 27, 2006, 01:02:17 PM
I don't think it is strictly Carnival. But as we (wwwcga) have members with a range range of interests (focussed on iridised glass) it seemed worth a shot. However, I don't think anyone's come up with the right answer yet. Maybe this is one of those mysteries that will run and run.........

Glen

PS
I see so much on eBay wrongly IDd.
I see so much everywhere wrongly IDd.
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Frank on September 30, 2009, 12:13:11 PM
maybe the book was:

The Encyclopaedia (Encyclopedia) of Glass - Edited By Phillips, Phoebe 1981 and 1987 editions in US and UK

Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Littleblackhen on December 05, 2011, 10:22:09 PM
Did anyone ever find any more on this vase?  I have an almost identical one to the one in the original post, and would love to know more about it.
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Mosquito on December 06, 2011, 10:21:19 AM
My guess is Japanese, given that I've seen a vase with similar texture and iridescence with a 'Norleans, made in Japan' label. Norleans appear to be a trading company who sold various bits of Japanese ceramics and glass as well as a few Italian pieces. 
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: ahremck on December 06, 2011, 01:21:01 PM
That seems highly likely Steven.  I had a red one for a number of years and could find out nothing about it except it was glass and thus could not be WF.  I have seen others (at least two) and an awful lot of Japanese glass was sold here in Australia - almost all with paper labels.

Ross
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: chopin-liszt on December 06, 2011, 02:36:09 PM
I've seen and handled a few of these over the years and as I've been rereading this thread and thinking about them, "Japan" was starting to shout loudly in my brain - before I saw Steven's response.

I've only recently learned a bit about Japanese bits of glass and seen how they're finished and how they feel - and now I'm putting my recent learning in conjunction with my memories of these, I reckon they belong together.

I have serious doubts about them being any older than the '50s..... 1950s.
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: rocco on December 07, 2011, 07:37:45 PM
Interesting :usd:
I does look very similar to my 2-coloured bark textured vase (http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,39531.0.html) which was also attributed here on the board to Japan (and is certainly not older than the 1960s).

I just dug it out (it was stored away) to compare them better, and the shape and the base do look almost identical -- like they came from the same mould; the rim seems a little different...

Michael
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Littleblackhen on March 25, 2013, 07:42:42 AM
Did anyone ever get any further with the identification of this vase?  I still have mine hanging around waiting to be labeled up :)
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: rocco on March 25, 2013, 12:35:36 PM
I would still think Japanese...

>> Here is an ebay link (http://www.ebay.de/itm/Sea-Glasbruk-Design-Glas-Vase-60er-70er-Jahre-Vintage-Bark-Glass-Vase-Sweden-/221013537332) to a labeled one (with a strange description btw, Japanese AND Swedish) from the same range, and as far as I remember that label was attributed to some Japanese maker (Sanyu?)

Michael
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Frank on March 25, 2013, 02:40:51 PM
That one on eBay is completely different to the one starting this thread, which was probably one of the first of the genre.
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Littleblackhen on March 25, 2013, 04:16:49 PM
The one on ebay and the one you have do not look as though they are related to the one I have.  The shape is different and the bark effect doesn't match.

I hope we manage to attribute it one day, someone should get the blame for producing such strikingly ugly vases :)

Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: rocco on March 25, 2013, 06:37:58 PM
What I am sure about is that the iridescent one which started this thread and my blue-green one (see attached pics) are of identical shape. 8)

I have seen this model and the one in the ebay auction I linked to several times now (also as a "set"), both in this quite distinctive black and red colourway:
>> Link (http://www.glaskilian.de/Sea-Glasbruk.522.0.html) to the whole range, same "S handcraft" labels (all pieces attributed to Sea glasbruk, but I think Wayne has identified the red ashtray as Japanese as well).

Michael
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Littleblackhen on March 25, 2013, 07:51:55 PM
Actually, now that I look at the photos again, I think you are right.  My iridescent one is the same shape and bark pattern as your blue vase.  It was the red ebay one that threw me.

So I think Japan is looking strong for these at the moment?

Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: ahremck on June 14, 2013, 04:59:37 AM
It seems likely that it was by S Handcraft which has "Japan" on the label(see below) on both of the examples I own.  Unfortunately the literature on Japanese Glass isn't!  So until we get an enthusiast Japanese glassie to write a book I suspect we are all in the dark somewhat.  Other good brands are Kamei & Hineri.  Much of the glass seems to come from Osaka.

Ross
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: michajoli on August 27, 2017, 12:05:12 PM
Hi guys!

Any news around concerning this japanese handcraft label?

The other day i also found a vase with this label and this morning i already searched quite a while for the maker company and couldn't find it yet.

There is one attribution around in the web concerning this label, saying SONSCO (not a maker but a distributor), but i don't really believe in that attribution because you only can find different looking Sonsco labels in the web.

Regards
Micha
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: keith on August 27, 2017, 10:48:45 PM
I'd like to know also, I've had this for ages  ::)
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: Tigerchips on August 28, 2017, 11:48:27 AM
Lot's of Japanese glass on Collectors Weekly website.... https://www.collectorsweekly.com/user/racer4four/japanese-glass

Hey, Keith, i have one like that but i haven't been able to find the maker yet.
Title: Re: Bark textured vase, iridescent finish - any clues?
Post by: michajoli on August 28, 2017, 11:59:06 AM
Thank you for this idea!!!
Found this posting there:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/201121-shoei-glass-from-japan?in=collection-3002

Think our searched maker name is SHOEI :-)