Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: Durabar on December 19, 2015, 11:51:42 AM
-
Hi all,
I thought I'd share some images of a piece I found on
ebay some time ago. I'm not a glass collector but when
I seen this I thought it looked a bit special.
It looks like some kind of miniature time portal from "Star Trek"
Signed F Akerboom '91 burned into the base it certainly looks like a "one off"
Couldn't find many images of the artists other works although Google search turns
up the scientific glass references.
-
How wonderful!
What an unusual piece, by a very unusual artist. Very early on in my interest in glass, I went to a talk given by Jack Searle, for the Scottish Slass Society at the Macmanus Galleries in Dundee - and Fritz Akerboom was there. I saw, in reality (in vitro ;D ) a wonderful iridescent piece he had made - I think there are images and some info on the Scotland's Glass website.
Have a look here. :)
http://www.scotlandsglass.co.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41:frits-akerboom-lampwork-a-slumped&catid=16&Itemid=8
(In labs, the expressions "in vivo" and "in vitro" are used to describe experiments that happen in life (in vivo) or as experiments to describe what happens in test tubes (in vitro). I am rather fond of trying to use the expression "in Vitro", to describe glass in reality. But I'm just a saddo about lab stuff, I love it.)
There is a piece of his work displayed in the Museum in Glasgow. (I suspect it is the same piece I saw in Dundee and that is illustrated on the website. I lust after it!)
I'm afraid (despite being a bit of a trekkie myself) I see something made fom human bones rather than a portal to other worlds. ;D
Welcome to the board - and what a fabulous, scarce and unusual piece to start off with.! ;D 8) 8) 8)
-
hmm, I see people kissing in one and in the other, people hugging ;D
Very nice find.
m
-
Perhaps it's really a glass Rorschach test. ;D
So what would our different interpretations of this say about each of us so far?
a) Imaginative and far reaching? :)
b) Morbid Hypochondriac? ???
c) Affectionate and supportive? :)
-
Nah, it's a couple kissing in front of some ruins :D
-
;D Sue
Carolyn you made me look again - is it all one piece?
Also OP please could we have a photograph of the base and the signature? That would be extremely helpful.
Thank you
m
-
It is all one piece - it appears to be stuck to a dark, possibly metal, base.
I'm not really a morbid hypochondriac either - just extremely interested in biological and behavioural science, ethology and anthropocentrism. ;D
If my memory is functioning, (it might have been when I heard this) I believe Mr. Akerboom used the lampwork technique. He didn't blow glass from a pot of melted metal.
-
Hi all. Thanks for the replies. It does look like lampwork from the
little knowledge I have. The mountings on the base seem to be hollow
where they meet the glass, could it have been blown as well?
The glass itself has a frosting effect and a textured feel to it.
I've added some images of the base which seems to be made up
from several layers of a wood chip composite material. Nothing fancy.
More like something you would have lying around in the shed.
-
;D Sue
Carolyn you made me look again - is it all one piece?
Also OP please could we have a photograph of the base and the signature? That would be extremely helpful.
Thank you
m
Pleased to be of service LOL
-
You could try writing to him. His address seems to be given here http://announce.jpress.co.uk/fife-today/obituary/kathleen-kath-akerboom/28432744
-
Dear All,
here is a little grouping of Akerboom pieces I have, similar to the link above and also a picture of his signature for your records. :)
Kind Regards
Andrew
-
:)
Thank-you!
I think the blue piece resembles an Auerbach portrait - fabulous. 8) 8) 8)
-
Dear Sue,
you are very welcome. The blue piece is a fantastic colour and to be fair I've not seen a similar colourway/finish in either the blue or the gold in all my glass travels. The smaller vase has the best shape and total feel. All are dated 1978 and also signed either March or April and his name. I have seen a similar piece in gold, similar to my larger piece, posted here before on glassmessages when a list of 1970's studio glass makers was listed. I can't find it but it included pieces by Skillitzi, Akerboom, Thornycroft. Elliott, Herman et al.
Kind regards
Andrew
-
Possibly the thread on '70s studio glass? I started one to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Studio Glass movement, we ended up having threads illustrating different decades.
-
Hello all,
I know this thread is quite old but I wanted to reply to it. My grandfather is Frits Akerboom and I was affected to see that his work was being spoken of online. He's not created any new pieces in a long time, but when I next visit him I will tell him that his work is still being enjoyed.
Thanks.
-
Not just enjoyed, his foresight and subsequent contribution to the Studio Glass Movement was considerable. His work is much admired.
I do my admiring mostly in museums, and I know where his work is in the the Museums that have any. I'm not lucky enough to own any.
It's wonderful to hear he's still around. :)
Please, thank him for me.
-
Dear Akerboom and Sue,
wow....I agree with what both of you have said and please let him know that these are up there with all the late 70's players....not much kit around to play with in those days, but lots of creativity. Please ask him what methods he used to make his glass, from the glass pot through to annealing and sale please. it would be fascinating to capture this knowledge and history. If he's up for it I'm sure that any commentary he is prepared to share by YouTube, Whatsapp, whatever would be so appreciated. He was there and saw it real time. It would be great to capture that knowledge and for his satisfaction whatever you record you can edit till it's as crisp as his glass. :-) ... thank you for responding, it's just brilliant what the internet has given us all.
With kind regards
Andrew
-
Dear Akerboom,
I forgot to ask....would you also be able to share pictures of any pieces in your family as well? Once recorded never lost.
Yours
Andrew
-
Anything scientific would also be greatly appreciated. (especially by me!)
I used to work in research labs, I have very happy memories of visiting the scientific Glassblower in Dundee to get some special weird and delicate contraptions made and mended. The skill involved in that was incredible.
Your Grandfather must have had to teach himself and invent methods for getting things done. 8) ;D 8)
But please, don't put him under any pressure. He should be enjoying his retirement.
-
Hi there guys,
Sorry for the late reply. I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to visit grandad in the next week or so and I am going to pass on your messages.
I'd like to ask if any of you have specific questions about his work, technique, practice, etc, and I'll try and record his replies.
Also, chopin-liszt, could you please let me know what museum's grandad's work is displayed in? I'd like to know as well.
I'll do my best to photograph some of the work he has in the house and post it here when I've gone through it.
Thanks again.
-
There is definitely some in Glasgow Museum, in the same cabinet as the Clutha glass, and I'm sure there was a bit in the Ulster Museum in Belfast. (My trip there was very hurried and crammed in mid-journey).
I don't know if they have any in the MacManus Galleries in Dundee; they hide all their glass away. It's the same in Edinburgh, Chamber Street - all locked away, put of sight.
-
heres a piece of Frits Akerboom I picked up at a boot sale around 3 years ago
-
;D You have the luck of the devil, Gary. I know you've got first dibs on all the best Monart lurking in the shadows, but how come you get Fritz Akerboom too? ;) :P
-
;D You have the luck of the devil, Gary. I know you've got first dibs on all the best Monart lurking in the shadows, but how come you get Fritz Akerboom too? ;) :P
lol I seen it on a stall one morning and really liked it canna mind if it was 20p or a pound as bought other pieces of glass off same stall
-
I shall take solace and comfort from the knowledge that I met Fritz Akerboom once, in a very small gathering of the Scottish Glass Society, at a talk given by Jack Searle.
-
I shall take solace and comfort from the knowledge that I met Fritz Akerboom once, in a very small gathering of the Scottish Glass Society, at a talk given by Jack Searle.
well done you, I seen in an earlier reply on here that his grandson was on and going to be visiting Frits and gathering some info and maybe photos of any glass he had etc but it doesn't look like he ever got back on here again strange would have been great if he had
-
It would have been wonderful, but a lot of time has passed. Age is catching up with a lot of us these days. ::)
-
My name is Carol Mollon and I am the daughter of Frits Akerboom, glassblower. I have been googling dad and came upon this site and realised that maybe my son Adam had also been talking to some of you about his grandad.
I am afraid to inform you that sadly dad passed away on the 23rd February 2020. We have been overwhelmed at the lovely comments we have had over the past two weeks regarding dad and how respected in the world of glassblowing he was.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this post.
Carol Mollon
-
My name is Carol Mollon and I am the daughter of Frits Akerboom, glassblower. I have been googling dad and came upon this site and realised that maybe my son Adam had also been talking to some of you about his grandad.
I am afraid to inform you that sadly dad passed away on the 23rd February 2020. We have been overwhelmed at the lovely comments we have had over the past two weeks regarding dad and how respected in the world of glassblowing he was.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this post.
Carol Mollon
so sorry to hear about the sad passing of your dad
-
My deepest condolonces.
From my very brief time of meeting him at the talk, he seemed like a lovely man - very modest about his talent, but so enthusiastic about glass.
He will not be forgotten, he has a recognised place in art history. I do hope this is some small comfort.