Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: Anne E.B. on June 18, 2016, 03:16:58 PM
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Just bought this very nice tall bottle vase with attenuated neck and with creamy/white swirls/bubbles. Shows opalescence when held to the light.
Snapped off round pontil mark. Unsigned.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
TIA :-*
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Just a thought - could it be Isle of Wight Studio Glass?
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Looks good for Isle of Wight Studio to me, possibly an experimental or trial piece in these colours I would think. These attenuated bottles also have snapped pontil marks, due to their shallow concave bases. Lovely item.
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I agree, a trial/experimental "white swirl" attenuated bottle from Isle of Wight Studio Glass, early-mid '70s.
The bubbles are perfect, the style is perfect, the kind of swirl, the shape, everything says IoWSG. :)
I'm not sure if its true opalesence though, I suspect it's just the way the white enamel goes when light is trying to get through it.
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Many thanks Greg and Sue for the confirmation. ;)
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There have been ones seen in just plain blue or pink swirls, as well as the official range of pink and blue swirls.
They are really pretty scarce. I've never seen a white one before. :)
How tall is it?
I'm adding a pic of a bit of my Seaward attenuated bottle, which was taken in bright sunshine - all the patterning in the enamels and the bubbles show up quite well in it, you can compare it to the white swirls you have - and see just how almost identical they are (apart from the colour).
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It stands just over 14" high. It is the same as yours apart from the colour. Does "Seaward" refer to the colourway of yours, or does it refer to the design/pattern?
I spotted it a week ago in a shop and fortunately it was still there, so just took the plunge today. It looks its best against a darker background as the white swirls really stand out.
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Seaward is the name of the colourway of mine, which is signed by Michael Harris.
A 14" one is the scarcer, shorter bottle.
They were made in two sizes, ~14-15" and ~17-18". (It's not exact.)
Although your bottle is not signed, and there is no way of telling for certain, I would be happy to suspect that it was made by MH. The way the swirls work in my bottle and the way they work in yours is so, so similar.
It's even unusual to find a bottle with swirls as good as mine, it's quite a spectacular beast and the best I've seen. 8)
But it's what came to mind the second I laid eyes on your bottle - "It looks just like my Seaward!"
I'm sure John will say something when he sees it - he's a serious Attenuated Bottle afficionado and probably knows a good bit more than I do.
It's a fabulous find, Anne. Well done. ;D
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I am certain I know no more than Sue about this! I would agree - an IoWSG attenuated bottle in what gets described as an experimental colourway, 1973 (or perhaps early 74) would be my guess for date. I don't remember seeing anything with just white swirls before so I would say a genuine rarity.
The shape of the bottles evolved slightly over time too, this is distinctly 'club' shaped, this same club shape can be found in blue and white swirls, seaward and the earliest of the tortoiseshell bottles too.
John
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Dates, and the observation of the club shape evolving are your input alone, John.
I recognised the early clubbiness of the shape, (that neat little curve in, towards the base) but didn't think it loud enough to mention it. :-[
The fact that it's an experimental colourway also puts it to the early '70s. (and would support the notion that MH made it)
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Thanks John and Sue. I'm thrilled that it is rare. :D
Would several of these experimental white colourway pieces have been made, or perhaps just one? Which begs the question, why wasn't it (along with other trial/experimental colourways) produced wide scale? What would have influenced the decision?
I have my own opinion as to why my white version might have only made it to the trial/experimental stage, as it only comes to life IMHO when placed in front of a darker background, where it looks stunning. The white swirls become much less apparent when placed against a light background or back lit, and its quite delicate looking whereas Sue's 'Seaward' is a wonderfully vibrant colour.
I might have to paint a wall ::)
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I would imagine it was dependent on the fashion and what was selling at the time.
Early '70s into the '80s, browns were popular, so the range which came to be called Tortoiseshell at IoWSG (and was Earthtones at Mdina) was the one that sold most and was made the most, but there are not that many attenuated bottles.
Pink and blue swirls was an official range, but it is still very scarce, Seaward was an official range, but very short lived - it didn't sell as well as Tortoiseshell, so all of it is pretty scarce. Attenuated bottles are very thin on the ground. I have one, Gary (a serious collector who isn't a member here) has one, I remember him finding it, he was dancing around the fair in jubilation. I'm sure John has at least one. I've seen one other.
Aurene was a popular range, and is possibly the most commonly found design in attenuated bottles, but even they are still not common and make good money.
Plain pink, or plain blue swirls have been seen; there are a few (but probably under 10) of each "out there" which are known about.
We've not seen a white one before.
All early IoWSG attenuated bottles are fairly scarce and desirable. You've got yourself something seriously unusual within that.
We really don't know how many may have been made, Anne. But we really don't think it would have been many.
I'd risk saying they could probably be counted on fingers. ;D
Everything was still quite experimental in the early days.
My Seaward is only vibrant in sunshine. Otherwise, it's a fairly dark thing.
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Which begs the question, why wasn't it (along with other trial/experimental colourways) produced wide scale? What would have influenced the decision?
As Sue says, it was primarily down to what sold well, the second consideration was probably cost of production. If it was not well received at the time it would not have lasted long.
Lighting can make a huge difference Anne, try in different places or with a light underneath, there is a chance it may look good and it would save painting your living room black. ;D
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Thanks for the info Sue ;)
I'll keep it awhile and find the best spot for it without going all Goth (or what ever it is these days) ;D
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In contrast to your Goth suggestion, I'm imagining it with a cloud of gypsophola popping out of the top, next to a wedding cake all laid out on a white brocade cloth, with ribbons and other white, frilly table decor.
(Sometimes, strange images turn up in my head, uninvited. ;D)
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And the rest of the time they are there because you HAVE invited them? ;D
Carolyn
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shhhhhh! :-[ :-*
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Here's a signed Michael Harris attenuated bottle, in solely pink, for comparison, a sister vase too. :)
Kind regards
Andrew
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:)
That looks like a shorter one too - and you can see the lovely curve of the rounded base.
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We have a blue/white swirled one that is just under 23" tall.
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Sue,
thank you. What I adore about the pink one is that the neck is so long and fine that I fear it will break if I pick it up.
The Pinky is 14" tall and the Tortoise 12".
The one to the right is an unusual Mdina attenuated/bottle, signed Mdina in Vibrapen. I am not certain as to the year it was made however has a fineness absent from later pieces. I thought a snap from above might amuse.
Kind regards
Andrew
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:)
Thanks for the extra pics Andrew. I have noticed a couple of somethings about the pink enamel used in these which might interest you.
It's clear, but it doesn't seem to always behave like other enamels when it gets hot and melts - it doesn't seem to do it smoothly, but in tiny bits. There are often a lot of tiny, long upright bubbles in it, and there is a general impression of oiliness (but in an attractive way!) about the appearance and texture.
Another really weird thing is that in some pieces, but not others, fluorescent strip lighting will make the pink turn green. There must have been two different kinds of batch of pink, one produced using different metals to the other.
Mdina short attenuated bottles with red/brown spiral swirls like that and are from around the mid-70s and into the '80s, with those vibrated marks. Not overly common in this colourway, but not rare. :)
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Sue,
that's fantastic detail. Thank you. I am a great admirer of this platform and it's contributors. :-)
So I'll post a few piccies off various pink, pink/blue and obvious Kerry pink " heather " for comparison. I like your description of the " oiliness " of the pink alone.
One though has a Kerry Glass Sticker and has the IOW " sided" mark not the reversed form normally seen.
It's not spot the ball but stick the pin in the right pinky.
Once again thanks.
Andrew
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And the rest. :)
Andrew
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Opps
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Feeling very much "in the pink", are we? ;D
I made a mistake - it's not UV lighting - it's fluorescent strip lighting that can turn the pink bits green on some pieces.
There must have been two completely different batches of enamel.
I don't know if they were seperated by time or not.
Have you found any "green" pink swirls?
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I'm going to have to look now! :D
Is the green some form of iridescence to the surface or does it appear within the body of the piece?
Happy days.
Andrew
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All the pink turns green, but only when the light hits it at the correct angle - it's dichroic, like neodynium.
But pink and olivey green, not grey-blue and lilac. :)