Glass Message Board

Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic, Austria => Topic started by: obscurities on June 22, 2014, 04:43:58 PM

Title: An Earlier Welz Decor - A New Acquired Example
Post by: obscurities on June 22, 2014, 04:43:58 PM
As many people are aware I have primarily focused for the last 7 years or so on the production of Franz Welz. Contained in Truitt I are two pages of images of glass by the company.  There is a particular decor shown on pg 131 image 7 which shows a vase in a décor I will refer to as a Spiral Feather, for lack of a known production name or number.  Attributions in the Truitt book for the Welz glass were provided by the Curators at the Novy Bor Museum.

After about a 7 year search I was finally able to locate and purchase an example of this decor, which in hand, far surpasses the image in the book. I will post a number of pics of it here, and also the image from Truitt I, used with the express permission of Deborah Truitt.

The precision of execution required to pull of this vase is really quite amazing. It stands at about 9.5 inches tall, and is done in a matte finish. It is lighter glass than I expected it to be. There are 6 feather spirals which do a little over a 360 degree rotation as they traverse the body of the vessel from the rim to the base. No pontil mark, and a cut and polished rim.

Enjoy!!
Title: Re: An Earlier Welz Decor - A New Acquired Example
Post by: obscurities on June 22, 2014, 04:46:00 PM
A couple more pics and the Truitt image.
Title: Re: An Earlier Welz Decor - A New Acquired Example
Post by: keith on June 22, 2014, 04:55:54 PM
Great find Craig, will have to keep a look out for one on my travels, ;D ;D
Title: Re: An Earlier Welz Decor - A New Acquired Example
Post by: glassobsessed on June 22, 2014, 08:48:03 PM
Thanks Craig, persistence works then. 8)

Do you know if the handles on the 'Truitt' example are made from clear or opaque white glass?

John
Title: Re: An Earlier Welz Decor - A New Acquired Example
Post by: obscurities on June 22, 2014, 09:01:14 PM
John,

I believe it is actually clear glass with a frosted or satin finish. Similar to the ones on this piece in my collection. All of the handles in the images in the book appear to be that kind of smokey color and I do not believe any of them actually are. It is either an artifact of the original photography, or of the printing process for the books.

And yes.... persistence apparently is paid off once in a while....  ;D

Craig
Title: Re: An Earlier Welz Decor - A New Acquired Example
Post by: glassobsessed on June 23, 2014, 09:01:53 AM
Thanks Craig, those handles also look like they would be at home on an antique Murano vase.
Title: Re: An Earlier Welz Decor - A New Acquired Example
Post by: obscurities on June 23, 2014, 02:50:58 PM
I agree....  Truitt dates this piece to ca. 1900. I think it may actually be 10 or 15 years earlier...

Craig
Title: Re: An Earlier Welz Decor - A New Acquired Example
Post by: glassobsessed on June 26, 2014, 10:56:18 AM
I would tend to agree, the complex shape seems a bit earlier in style, by the 1900s shapes were often a little simple and sometimes more organic in form.
Title: Re: An Earlier Welz Decor - A New Acquired Example
Post by: chopin-liszt on June 26, 2014, 06:29:12 PM
Am I the only person who thinks it looks better upside-down?
The decor is wonderful.  :)