Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: Pip on May 28, 2006, 11:53:03 AM
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I bought this morning at a boot sale a bark/ice type vase 6.5in tall and on the base right in the centre is a sort of daisy/flower type design (an inch in diameter) standing proud of the surface and around it is written 'TAPIO WIRKKALA 1377' - now Max has got me para and I'm wondering if the signature is genuine since I know very few were signed in full. Max mentioned the word 'dremmel' (jealousy jealousy!) but I'm now thinking maybe it is a tad dodgy. I can't post a piccie of it right now cos my camera battery is charging - does anyone know what this daisy type motif is (I'm assuming it's not Iittala)? Cheers. (PS It was only a few quid so no worries).
Edit: Photos
the glass is very thick and heavy... on the second one you can just about make out some of the signature around the flower thingy (what the bliddy heck is it?)
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g60/pips-trip/TW10001.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g60/pips-trip/TW20001.jpg
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:lol: I said that Dremel thing before you'd even described it - I was just jealous! lol Having said that, I haven't heard of the flower design before.
There's a full signature of Tapio Wirkkala + production number shown in Smoke & Ice though, so that part might not be a problem as you know. :)
I'll look it up in Designlasin if it's an unusual design, once you post the pic.
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Cheers Max
I'd assumed that if someone were going to go to the bother of faking a sig they'd ask decent money for the item in question - this was cheap! The flower/daisy motif on the base is weird though :? I'm very gullible and easily confused but luckily way too squeaky to ever get seriously ripped off :lol:
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Sig is not Dremel, sandblasted or acid. Needs a larger pic to tell
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I'll have a look in designlasin later, but I have seen this style of impressed flower on items in charity shops - a couple just lately in fact. I don't think it bodes well...but I will check when my paints dry.
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I don't see a vase quite like that in my designlasin by him. However I am known for overlooking things so may be Max will look again.
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I'll have a look in designlasin later, but I have seen this style of impressed flower on items in charity shops - a couple just lately in fact. I don't think it bodes well...but I will check when my paints dry.
Cheers - I've already convinced myself it's dodgy - it's not a bad object in itself though, heavy and textured, and as you know it was pretty cheap so it's not a tragedy. However, it'd be interesting to find out where it came from and how the signature was done.
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Oooh errrrr......shows how important a pic is !!
I had assumed an engraved signature as per normal.
Never seen this style of "signature" before but maybe they are using in current production ... ??
As you intimated Pip, I too find it hard to believe that such a modest item would be "tampered" with.
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I know - totally weird isn't it Pete? Serves me right though cos I was giving it large to Max about having bought a signed Tapio for next to nothing :lol:
Obviously I'll keep it for novelty value and, assuming it's dodgy, I now at least have a vase I can actually use without worrying about water damage - HURRAH! I actually quite like the vase anyway, I'm a big lover of textured glass and would have bought it without the 'sig' so it's all fine - I'm just very curious about who, why and how the name was applied to the base and what the flower thing is about :?
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The flower reminds me of the Tudor rose Pip... see what I mean?
http://www.sterlingtimes.org/memorable_images65.htm
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By jove you're right Anne!
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My goodness that man designed a LOT of glass! :shock: :x
I've had a look through Designlasin now and like Pat, I can't find it. I think we have to assume he did not make this. Plus the signature is nothing like the one shown in Smoke & Ice either.
It would be useful to know which company impresses the tudor style rose on its glass though. I've seen at least a couple on drinking glasses (I think?) with the same mark recently.
Sorry Pip, but as you point out, it's still a nice looking piece of glass and at least you can use it! :D I remember someone on whitefriars.org saying that he had some cut flowers, about 200 Scandi vases and still nothing to put the flowers in. :lol:
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:D:D:D
I have exactly the same vase, but with no writing on it's bottom.
The glass itself could not be Iittala, it is far too yellowy-green in colour.
The rim of mine is slightly different though - mine is flatter that yours, which seems to be curved.
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Response from iittala :
Hi Peter,
Thank you for your message.
I showed the picture of the glass to our expert and she said that the vase is not made by iittala or by Tapio Wirkkala.
Ystävällisin terveisin/Best regards
info
Anu Iso-Kokkila
iittala oy ab
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Cheers for sorting that out Pete - although it's no surprise - I realised quite early on it wasn't what it was purporting to be (thanks to Max's astute observations). But I'm wondering now if this faked signature is a one-off or if there are more of these lurking somewhere? It was bought from a boot sale in Dorking on Sunday and the seller didn't say anything about it and only asked a small sum so I don't think he's the culprit. Very puzzling!
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??? Very weird, Pip. Maybe someone ditching the evidence? Can't think of any other explanation.
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No probs Pip
I was curious myself to see what iittala are selling these days as well as finding the skinny on this piece. I just can't resist a good glass whodunnit - much better than a murder mystery anyday in my book.
I'm still mystified as to the story on your item though. It would seem that someone somewhere thought they would make a killing on passing these off as iittala, especially with the magic Wirrkala name attached.
As Cathy seems to be suggesting maybe the seller to you, bought it on Ebay and then realised it wasn't kosher. I don't suppose we will ever know unless a large number of them start appearing on Ebay from particular sellers....even then questions would remain.
I was v pleased and impressed at how quickly & decisively iittala responded.
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No probs Pip
I was curious myself to see what iittala are selling these days as well as finding the skinny on this piece. I just can't resist a good glass whodunnit - much better than a murder mystery anyday in my book.
I'm still mystified as to the story on your item though. It would seem that someone somewhere thought they would make a killing on passing these off as iittala, especially with the magic Wirrkala name attached.
Well I might pop along there next week and see if he's got more of the same - see if he's drip feeding them, but it still wouldn't make sense to ask just a few quid for it if it was part of a bigger scam. Maybe it was just some saddo who saw a Wirkkala vase on FlogIt or Cash in the Attic or something equally lame and thought 'that looks like that vase I've got' and got the etching fluid out and had a go. Like you said, we'll probably never know :?
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I wrote to Tudor Crystal, asking if they might know who made this vase. Shot in the dark, I only thought perhaps they might know as it's a symbol they use.
They don't know either though, but said if we find out, let them know...wish I could find out who makes this stuff. I'm surprised no-one knows more. :?