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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Animals & Figurines => Topic started by: jays1978 on May 19, 2013, 12:19:28 PM

Title: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: jays1978 on May 19, 2013, 12:19:28 PM
Hi there, I recently acquired a great looking item. The seller claimed they were Josef Riedel, but I can find very little images of Riedels work, just lots of info on history.
I have attached an image.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
James.


Mod: copyright image removed, please see reply #11 for new image
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: Anne on May 19, 2013, 02:16:04 PM
Hello James and welcome to the board. I've amended your topic title slightly to include words that will catch the eye of those with an interest in this area of glass. I hope someone will be able to help with your query. :)
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: Paul S. on May 19, 2013, 03:00:14 PM
Hello James, and welcome from me. :)           Can't help I'm afraid, but just thought I'd suggest a possible reason why the seller mentioned the the name of Riedel.         It's widely believed that he was the first to use uranium as a colourant in glass, on a commercial level  -  although he may not have actually made your swans.               Annagelb being the greenish-yellow sort, and Annagrun the yellowish-green sort -  both words using his wife's name as part of the description.
Let's hope someone can give you much more help with these. :) 
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: Anne on May 19, 2013, 03:05:50 PM
It would also be worth adding images showing the swans in natural light please, so we can see the colour rather than the uranium glow. Also dimensions are helpful.  :)
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: jays1978 on May 19, 2013, 05:05:17 PM
Hi guys here is a natural light image of the swans, the mother swan measures around 5cm high.

Mod: copyright image removed, please see reply #11 for new image
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: Ivo on May 19, 2013, 06:20:50 PM
This is lamp work - i.e. fashioned from glass tubes in a gas flame, so not  actually done in a glass works in front of the oven.  Chances are your swans were made in China or in Lauscha (Germany) - but remember lamp work can be done anywhere and does not require great investment.

Riedel invented the colour, but his production (19th ct.) was very bohemian, quite heavy, panel cut, gilded, ornamented and decorated - so no relation to your swans.
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: jays1978 on May 19, 2013, 07:17:41 PM
Thanks for the info Ivo, any idea on date? 19th, 20th century?
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: jays1978 on May 19, 2013, 07:24:34 PM
Don't know if the eBay listing link will assist
 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251274767903?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: Anne on May 19, 2013, 08:30:44 PM
James, do you have the permission of the seller to use his images on the board? If not we shall need to remove them from the topic as their retention here will breach his copyright and our board policy. If the seller gives you permission to use them then please let us know and they will be able to stay with a copyright/consent notice included. Thanks. :)
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: jays1978 on May 19, 2013, 08:56:02 PM
Hi Anne, apologies, remove my last post with regards to eBay listing.
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: Anne on May 19, 2013, 10:22:49 PM
The link is fine James, it's the images in your first post at the top which appear to have come from the ebay listing which are the worry.
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: jays1978 on May 20, 2013, 08:29:18 AM
Hi Anne,
       Please find attached an image that I have taken myself.
So you can remove the others that are of concern.
Many Thanks
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: jays1978 on May 20, 2013, 08:52:04 AM
Done some digging under lampwork glass, thanks Ivo.
Found this listing
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/bimini-hollow-blown-uranium-glass-162367146

Identical to my signet pieces, Bimini?
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 20, 2013, 09:35:03 AM
Baby swans are cygnets. ;)
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: Anne on May 20, 2013, 12:24:09 PM
James, thank you for adding your own image. I've deleted the two belonging to the ebay seller, so that keeps us on the right side of IP law. :)
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: rosieposie on May 20, 2013, 12:27:05 PM
That's an old eBay listing Jay... and does say 'believed to be Bimini',  and indeed it may well be, but I am not certain.  Maybe someone else with a Bimini Swan can reassure you, I know Angela Bowey, owner of this site collects Bimini pieces.
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: jays1978 on May 20, 2013, 01:24:06 PM
 chopin-liszt, thanks for the spell check!!!!! haha ;->
Thanks Anne and Rosie.
Maybe getting closer to identifying the origin of my Swan and cygnets, either way I love them where ever they are from and whoever made them!
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: Angela B on May 20, 2013, 10:01:48 PM
I am fairly sure your swans are not Bimini. You can see some Bimini pieces here : http://www.theglassmuseum.com/bimini.htm or in our book on London Lampworkers (see below)
Your swans are blown lampwork, which is not a common style of lampwork and somebody somewhere ought to be able to identify it. There was a New Zealand lampworker who used to make blown lampwork pieces in the mid 20th century. Bimini did make blown lampwork, but it tended to have a blotchy surface colouring as you can see in the article.
Title: Re: Josef Riedel Annagelb ? uranium swan family
Post by: jays1978 on May 21, 2013, 10:46:57 AM
Thanks for the information on Bimini Angela, can see why you collect them, some great pieces.