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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: Anne Tique on August 12, 2015, 03:40:20 PM
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Hello,
I bought this vase a couple of years ago, because I really liked the colours, and I still do. The (private) seller mentioned in the add 'Vase from Scotland'. I heard about Monart and Vasart, but didn't know much about it, and today, I only just know the basic history.
The seller mentioned his parents came back with this vase, after a trip to Scotland, hence the add.
I couldn't initially spot a signature, except for the two marks 'made in Scotland', but later on I did notice it, just above the pontil.
I had a look on the Ysart website, and if I'm not mistaken, it's model NJ? I've seen several codes for models but I haven't been successful in finding a similar model, and I have seen colourcodes, but I don't know if this is important, I presume certain colours are more popular than others.
It measures 22,5 cm in height and the width at the top of the vase is just under 18 cm.
Could anybody put a rough date on this vase please? Thank you for any info.
Other images of the signatures are following.....
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Here are two images of the marks and signature...
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;D
Ooooooh, I need to get in here to keep up with what is going to be said. 8)
This is a gorgeous vase, the colours are stunning. :)
It has an applied and decorated (I can't tell if it's surface decorated or cased) foot, (good) the marks are highly unusual (good)
I've not seen Monart written with a matchstick dipped in acid before - that was what was used by Vasart, I've never seen a "Made in Scotland" acid etched mark on Monart before.
That's all I know. It has some unusual and fascinating features. Those who know lots more than I do about Ysart glass can probably deduce quite a bit from these unusual features.
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Hey Sue,
There are white specks throughout the glass of the foot, and as you mentioned, it does have an applied foot. That's all I can say .....
Perhaps an image of the whole foot helps....
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It looks as if the foot is both decorated and cased, it's all shiney. Often, a foot (which is an unusual and desirable feature) is just surface decorated.
Have you got a UV torch to test for Uranium? It might contain some. Monart is full of surprises. :)
Another thing to look for in a beast like this is green aventurine. Not gold or copper under green glass, but true, green aventurine. It does somtimes appear in Monart, but I think it was a bit of an accident when it did, owing to chromuim getting out and.... doing chemical/colour-y things and floating to the surface of the pot in a scum. ;D
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Reading my last post, and enlarging the last image, I probably have to correct myself, as there aren't any specks on the pontil, so as you said Sue, probably surface decorated, but I'll wait for any further comments before I make a fool of myself ... mind you, that's not unusual for me.... ::)
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Sorry, crossed messages...i'll have a look, the vase's upstairs.
Haven't got a UV light here so I can't check on that one, unfortunately.
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We were both cross-posting - I've added more.
I have noticed you don't get very much wrong Anne. :)
(not nearly as much as I do - Christine kindly keeps a watchful eye on me. I've got short-term memory problems.)
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I have noticed you don't get very much wrong Anne. :)
That's just dumb luck I guess ;D
Re the casing... the vase isn't cased. I'll have a look again for the aventurines...better bring the vase down this time before I pass out with this heat! :D
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No I can confirm, no green aventurines, it's all gold that shines over here.
There's some green where the yellowish meets the bleu, which doesn't really show on the previous images, but it doesn't sparkle as much.
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:)
The foot is surface decorated, (with coloured frits) then cased in a thin layer of clear over that.
Often, the applied feet are quite dull and you can feel the slightly rough texture of the bits of frit.
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Ok, i held it against the light but I couldn't see any layers, but once again, I don't know anything about this type of glass, it's actually the only one that I have, besides a Vasart Thistle vase, but that's it. I don't come across it over here at all.
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I'm getting quite desperate for the proper folk to appear and help out here. ;D
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The shape is NJ, this shape was produced by Monart in the pre war period (1924 to 1939) and the post war period (1947 to 1961). As for the colour scheme, this was used in both pre and post war periods.
The acid etched signatures are rareish thing on Monart, see link below.
http://www.ysartglass.com/BaseLabel/Labels.htm
Gary
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Hi Sue. Yes, where are they when you need them?!!
Very unusual with those marks - the only info I can find is :
http://www.ysartglass.com/BaseLabel/Labels.htm
Shows the same "made in Scotland" mark.
Lovely piece in stunning colours - not sure of the colour code but I'm sure Gary will be able to tell you when he takes a look. I would agree with shape NJ.
oops - just crossed posts with the man himself! ;D
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Thank you all for your replies, it's very much appreciated.
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A bit more info on your Monart vase. The colour code is 480.
When the Monart catalogue was first produced (circa 1924) only two sizes were made for the NJ vase (V11and V1), other sizes were introduced at later dates, though it appears never added to the Monart catalogues.
Gary
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Thank you Gary for the information and your time!
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My brother has confirmed the everted rim might even merit the "R word".
I call it the "R word", because it's one that is terribly overused. Rare. ;D
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Yeah, I know what you mean Sue but it's nice to read that this vase is little out of the ordinary. Thank you for asking your brother! :-*
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I think all Monart is really a bit "out of the ordinary".
But yours is especially special. ;D
Nigel Benson gave a lovely lecture on it at the Edinburgh Conference, asking the question;
"Is Monart really very early Studio Glass?" outlining the similarities.
I have to agree, Monart is really very early Studio Glass, although the term was not used until the Toledo lectures of 23rd March 1963, which is the "official birthday" of that movement.
But Monart is also individually hand made and mouth blown, each piece absolutely unique work, made by artists. It wasn't made in a big factory, with loads of modern equipment and facilities for melting large volumes of metal and well controlled annealing ovens, it wasn't mass produced to designs.
They worked in a draughty wooden shed!
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I think they were "ahead of their time" - my visitors are often surprised when I tell them when they were first made - I have often had comments about how they look more modern!
I just love the uniqueness of them and the gorgeous colours and the way they are used! :D
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I think they were "ahead of their time" - my visitors are often surprised when I tell them when they were first made - I have often had comments about how they look more modern!
I just love the uniqueness of them and the gorgeous colours and the way they are used! :D
My sentiments exactly.
I think all Monart is really a bit "out of the ordinary".
But yours is especially special. ;D
Nigel Benson gave a lovely lecture on it at the Edinburgh Conference, asking the question;
"Is Monart really very early Studio Glass?" outlining the similarities.
I have to agree, Monart is really very early Studio Glass, although the term was not used until the Toledo lectures of 23rd March 1963, which is the "official birthday" of that movement.
But Monart is also individually hand made and mouth blown, each piece absolutely unique work, made by artists. It wasn't made in a big factory, with loads of modern equipment and facilities for melting large volumes of metal and well controlled annealing ovens, it wasn't mass produced to designs.
They worked in a draughty wooden shed!
I agree with everything you say there Sue, apart from the last sentence. As for as I know the Monart shop was always situated in the main factory buildings at Moncrieff glassworks and not in a wooden shed.
The Vasart glassworks down in Perth harbour area was made up of wooden sheds.
Below are 3 images of the Monart work area, the first two are pre war and the third is post war.
Gary
Images are reproduced with the kind permission of Perth museum
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I don't know why, but I always find it very touching to see a photo of the person at work, who made one of my pieces. Thank you for sharing these images Gary.
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And thank-you for correcting me. :) Always appreciated.
However, I had always been of the impression that the reason so many bits of Monart turn themselves into jigsaws was because the temperature of the annealling ovens could not be properly controlled because of the draughtly wooden shed they were in?
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very nice piece , I have the same shape in a different colourway and the same colourway on a different shape. also like yours it has the surface decorated applied foot, I also a several pieces signed monart made in Scotland which was used on most pieces exported to America/Canada/New Zeland and Australia , im sure there may have been more countries but that is just the places where I have purchased signed ones from