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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: MKennedy on October 13, 2015, 02:55:13 PM

Title: G Argy Rousseau
Post by: MKennedy on October 13, 2015, 02:55:13 PM: I am trying to authenticate a glass bowl which is signed G Argy Rousseau in painted gold on the base.
The bowl is circular and just under 20cm diameter - 9cm high.
The glass (not pate de verre) has a green tinge and is decorated with gazelles leaping in tall grasses.
Could this be an example of his later work (1930's)?

Any information would be welcome.
Title: Re: G Argy Rousseau
Post by: flying free on October 13, 2015, 05:57:43 PM: Hello and welcome to the board :)

Is it possible for you to submit a photograph of the signature which enlarges more than the current one please as it is impossible to see the base clearly or the gilded signature.

Many thanks
m
Title: Re: G Argy Rousseau
Post by: MKennedy on October 14, 2015, 10:56:27 AM: Many thanks
I have attached an image of the signature - The white lozenge is a camera effect so ignore
Hope this helps
Title: Re: G Argy Rousseau
Post by: Ivo on October 14, 2015, 11:08:30 AM: Never say never of course but I have yet to come across an Argy-Rousseau which was not pâte de verre. The signature does not convince me either. Cold enamel decoration which rubs off easily is not likely to have been used by Daum, B&S or Meisenthal. The decoration seems to have been done in post production. And another thought - if you have gold available, why use it only on the underside and not on the decoration?

Did we say welcome to the Glass Message Board by the way? If not, welcome to the board!
Title: Re: G Argy Rousseau
Post by: flying free on October 14, 2015, 11:35:27 AM: there are a pair of enamelled dishes here Ivo
http://www.mikeweedonantiques.com/newsite/stock/glass/french/a-rousseau/a-rousseau-ar-ed-001.html

MKennedy are the gazelles gilded or enamelled on the bowl please?

Thanks
m
Title: Re: G Argy Rousseau
Post by: flying free on October 14, 2015, 11:49:08 AM: see my post above as well as this bowl here
http://www.lamidesarts.fr/GABRIEL-ARGY-ROUSSEAU-ENAMELED-PLATE-FISH-ART-DECO-1930

It says on that listing that the same bowl is shown in Janine Bloch-Dermant's book on Rousseau.

It appears to be signed in gilt.

Edited: There is another piece here (and the description includes the information re the Salon des Artistes)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/8047983_french-deco-argy-rousseau-spider-web-glass-charger

Unfortunately your bowl is not in any books I have. You may have to do some searching around French Museum collections online and also according to some information I read he continued to work until the early 1950's showing work at the Salon des Artistes (? can't remember quite if that is right but I read something somewhere and can't find it now- sorry)

m
Title: Re: G Argy Rousseau
Post by: Ivo on October 14, 2015, 12:19:47 PM: The second picture shows loss of enamel in the decoration so you'd have to assume it is cold enamel (painted on) and not fired on like the other examples.
Title: Re: G Argy Rousseau
Post by: flying free on October 14, 2015, 12:41:09 PM: yes agree - (you mean the Rousseau signature on the fish plate?)
But that is the one that says it features in Janine Bloch-Dermant's book.
It's bit strange they were cold painted with the signature rather than enamelled isn't it?

m
Title: Re: G Argy Rousseau
Post by: Lustrousstone on October 14, 2015, 01:37:55 PM: Enamelling does wear, just not as much as cold painted
Title: Re: G Argy Rousseau
Post by: Anne Tique on October 19, 2015, 12:21:11 AM: I found a little bit that might explain why your vase is made of crystal and not pâte de verre...

In the link, unfortunately in French but there's always google translate the whole text, it is mentioned that he had to move from pâte de verre to crystal in 1929 because of the depression, as this was cheaper to produce I guess. The company dissolves fairly quickly after that, in 1931. He is considered as the specialist of pieces representing the Art Deco period. There's one vase amongst the examples that is decorated in a similar style.

So according to this information, it confirms that it is a later piece, as you asked in your question.

https://leverreetlecristal.wordpress.com/2014/02/02/gabriel-argy-rousseau-1885-1953-la-vie-et-loeuvre-dun-passionne/ (https://leverreetlecristal.wordpress.com/2014/02/02/gabriel-argy-rousseau-1885-1953-la-vie-et-loeuvre-dun-passionne/)
Title: Re: G Argy Rousseau
Post by: Mike M on October 19, 2015, 11:57:37 AM: He may have gone bust in 1931 but like many great glass designers he was quickly back in action creating glass through most of the 1930s -much of it enamelled.

French Historians are always a little vague on his history - maybe because much/some of his glass production was just possibly out-housed to Bohemia!
Title: Re: G Argy Rousseau
Post by: Anne Tique on October 19, 2015, 03:34:59 PM: I haven't come across that info, it was just a link I found, but I'm sure you've done some searching yourself and are probably right.