Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: antonizz on February 10, 2017, 12:22:39 AM
-
Hey everybody!
Does anyone know what this glass is called?
It's got different colors in it, mainly white spots.
This oil lamp is in 3 pieces, with a nice 'flower-top'.
I'd also like to know how old it is, and where it's made.
All information is welcome! :)
Thank you very much!
R. Antonis
-
hi - sorry, can't help you with most of your questions, but have a feeling that in the English language we would call glass of this appearance 'spatter glass' - pronounced as in matter, hatter, natter etc.
Your glass looks to have possibly been given an acid finish which has dulled the surface to a matter appearance.
I've no idea as to the real age of your item - whether it's older or less old than it's trying to suggest, but can say that much spatter glass was produced between c. 1918 and c. 1940 in Czechoslvakia/Bohemia - some marked with a an acid backstamp, and much that wasn't.
in terms of shape and overall design your glass is typical of pieces from Czechoslovakia from the art deco period - c. 1930 ish, although whether it is period I'm unable to say from looking at the screen only. You'd need to assess wear and other features I think.
You might tell us where you bought the pieces - and how the seller described the glass. :)
-
Adding to Paul's post, it also looks to be slightly iridescent.
It does help if you take photographs in daylight, against a white background and in good light, no flash. That way the glass can be seen properly.
I would start looking through the Reich catalogues - I will try and remember where the link is and link it for you.
m
-
I was just wondering what it was called.
I haven't bought it yet, and I won't unless you're saying it's a very special piece.
The reason for asking:
The seller told me it was opaline glass, and I wasn't sure.
Now I believe these 3-piece flower shaped oil lamps are kind of expensive,
at least the ones from 19th century are.
I have one almost exactly the same.
Just different glass. And probably different age & origin.
I wanted to buy it because it looked like this one:
(see pictures)
-
They might look expensive to buy but have you looked at whether they actually sell or not?
I think your blue one might be opaline glass (if it is not cased in clear - if it is then it's not opaline glass).
I think you need to research more online before buying :)
m
-
You are very right, BUT... I don't really know where to go except from here.
These are the only 2 I could find, and indeed they didn't sell.
I have literally spent more than 9 hours googling and all I found was this,
I don't really know what to search on.
*Oil lamps flower top
*Bohemian/European oil lamp/ petroleum lamp
*Opaline / Opalescent
*Banquet lamp oil lamp
*Bristol glass oil lamp
*Glass enameled oil lamp
I really tried 100 different searches.
That's the thing when you don't know what it's called,
or where it's from, or what glass or period it is...
then it's really hard to find it on your own.
But... when I find out. I won't forget it very soon haha ;)
1) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-European-Oil-Lamps-Pair-/332102364194?autorefresh=true
2) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Blue-Bristol-Glass-Tall-Banquet-Parlor-Oil-Lamp-/271309818764?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=CapgZKUWWQdbmIZsTsHzYoHZRV0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
-
well it might be worth just looking at glass online and finding out what type of glass you really like before buying.
Also, it's a good thing to find out how glass is made (pressed, blown,mold blown etc) and decide what kind of glass you like before spending lots of money buying.
I bought many pieces of glass for about 4 years but they were very cheap items bought from fairs and car boot sales. That way I could examine them, look at the glass, find out how they were made and then, by looking at all the posts on here, work out the kind of glass I like.
The best advice I was given is always to only buy something you like and can live with in your house :)
The second best advice is not to buy damaged glass (but I ignore that if I like the piece and it is very rare )
Take your time. If you love glass, buy some books or look at museum collections online.
I found books from named makers to be the the ones I like best (example - From Neuwelt to the Whole World is a book about Harrach glass and it's history). However, there are some very good general books on how glass developed and which countries which types of glass over the years.
Dan Klein and Ward Lloyd - The History of Glass is a good book for that.
Another way to look at glass is to go on the Corning Museum Website. There are many articles on there on the development of glass by some amazing experts in their fields.
And they have an awe-inspiring collection of glass from around the world.
m
-
if you have been told that the glass in your first pix are 'opaline' then you have been mis-informed - those pieces really are spatter glass and not opaline.
Spatter glass was produced as cheerful mostly everyday glass and date wise it appears at much the same time as much tango glass which was often in very bright oranges, red and lemon colours - cheap but attractive glass.
We've spilled gallons of ink here, on the GMB, discussing opaline glass, and reading those posts will help you to understand more accurately why opaline is called opaline and has nothing to do with less expensive spatter glass ......... much of the information on opaline was written by m - the lady who has joined me in replying to your question here. :)
Opaline won't be cased, and is produced in single colours with a semi-opaque appearance and has the looks of a milky substance and as such has earned the vernacular name of 'milk and water' glass.
I think the French were responsible for inventing opaline glass, some time early in the nineteenth century, and factories such as Baccarat made some of the very best - my opinion is that the blue glass you have shown is not opaline.
In your final ebay link to the lamp, it's difficult to relate this item - described as 'Antique Blue Bristol Glass' - to what glass collectors understand as 'Bristol Blue' - which was a deep rich cobalt blue ............ assuming this is what is being implied.
The colour of that lamp might be nearer to turquoise.
Perhaps you should be spending some of your money on books - these will teach you about different kinds of glass - different colours, and at the same time be enjoyable.
P.S. I would agree with what m has suggested regarding how to get an education in glass ;D - all very sound advice - but at the same time accept the fact that you will make mistakes......... remember..... people who don't make mistakes don't usually make anything - and you can at least learn from making mistakes.;)
-
Agreeing with the advice given by M and Paul, get yourself a bit more familiar with the material in all it's forms and styles before you make any decisions that you might, perhaps, regret later on ... to avoid disappointments ... but then, if you have never made any mistakes, you've never tried anything new in your life, and we have all been there. Having said that, if you absolutely love a certain brand, style or period, you'll never regret buying the piece that you managed to find.
Personally I have learned a lot, and still do learn, from going to antiques fairs and shops/exhibitions/auctions/flee markets etc etc ... there's nothing like having opportunities to handle and examine pieces up close, even if you don't want to buy anything. Some specialized dealers or sellers kindly let you have a look, at your own risk I have to add (no experience ;D), and they are always happy to share their knowledge.
Do remember that you can never know everything and there's always somebody, who knows something that you don't but that goes for everything in life, not just glass.
-
Thank you all for your help!! :D
I will definetaly try to learn more about it. Wish I could just give my knowledge an update by USB or something ;D
I'll try to read more, and visit antiquairs etc.
By the way, I visited an antiquair with the blue oil lamp (flower top) today.
The one who I found on ebay. (19th century, €500,00)
He told me, and I don't know if he's right, bacause he has been wrong before. (own experience).
He said it was from the 1960's, approximately $80,00.
I really hope he's wrong by the way :P
Back to the glass, I'm kind of attracted to satin glass, opaline glass, frosted glass, milk glass etc.
And I understand it's hard to tell the difference when you don't know any history about it, or even
seen some of it in real life. Long way to go... But that's fine.
Thank you all again, and have a nice weekend! ;D ;D
R.Antonis
-
Hi - there are many books on glass now available for you to choose from - most of them are not expensive, and perhaps for something like 100 Euros in total you will then be able to see differences between some of the important 'types' of glass.
Don't buy expensive academic books - what is important for you are books that have good quality pictures - it is what these 'types' of glass look like that is essential for you to understand................... and of course do try to handle as many pieces of glass as you can.
Try to understand what is meant by:...............
'cased glass'
what are the differences between:........ lead glass and soda glass ...........between cutting and engraving ......... between acid etching and engraving ............ flashed glass and overlay glass .......... the different methods such as - pressed glass and mould blown glass and free blown glass.
............ and don't spend a lot of money if you don't understand what it is that you are thinking of buying.
and most importantly - buy only what you really like - and if that happens to be art glass from the first half of the C20, then you should end up with a lot of colourful and attractive pieces.
finally - my compliments on your proficiency in written English - it's very good. :)
-
'Back to the glass, I'm kind of attracted to satin glass, opaline glass, frosted glass, milk glass etc.
And I understand it's hard to tell the difference when you don't know any history about it, or even
seen some of it in real life. Long way to go... But that's fine.'
me too :) my favourite type of glass really along with very old enamelled glass.
But.... I think it is important to understand the difference between 1830 (or even 1600s) opaline glass and 1960 opaline glass for example. There is a huge variety and difference in quality and rarity and desirability (and therefore price) and of course there is a difference in how they made the glass opaline.
Some pieces that have all those things are very expensive indeed.
Others that only have one may not be expensive. Don't waste your money, spend it wisely as then later on, you may be able to sell that piece to 'upgrade' to a better piece.
You could also go online and check out the photographs of museum glass collections - particularly those in the museums in Germany. There should be a list somewhere online. They have astounding and wonderful collections in the museums in Germany.
Also the Corning museum.
I would spend time looking at glass online and in books and working out what you like aesthetically.
If you are near Amsterdam there are at least three museums with great collections and more I think.
The Rijksmuseum has an online website for their glass collection including pieces not on display.
Then keep your eye out for those pieces when you are on ebay or out and about :)
Have fun, it's the best collecting area as there is soooo much to learn and so much variety.
m
-
Paul S.,
Thank you very much for the compliment ;)
I think I have to start at the beginning. How glass was invented and made over the years.
The quality pictures are important indeed.
Thank you very much for your detailed input, this is really helpful to me.
Most people (well, there aren't many people taking the time to really explain)
skip the basics, and explain it their own level of knowledge. I'm glad you can
put yourself in the position of someone without experience:
"Try to understand what is meant by:...............
'cased glass'
what are the differences between:........ lead glass and soda glass ...........between cutting and engraving ......... between acid etching and engraving ............ flashed glass and overlay glass .......... the different methods such as - pressed glass and mould blown glass and free blown glass. ...."
Thank you!
-
@flyingfree,
Just yesterday, in an antiques shop.. I saw this very beautifully green enameled opaline pedestal dish.
I came home later, and immediately started googling but I could anything unfortunately.
It had a silver (I believe silverplated) foot. That's why I started doubting about the age.
I really want to buy the piece but I'm not sure about it's age and value.
Could this be Charles X ?? Or is this impossible. I don't know why, but the silver foot
made me believe it wasn't so old. Plus he asked €100,00 for it. A bit above my budget (!!at the moment!!) haha.
The difference you talk about concerning the age of opaline, I understand how important that it.
The only thing I mostly do recognize is Italian 1950's/60's opaline. The pedestal dishes and lidded boxes.
Not always... but I'm learning.
About the museums, I didn't really know about online collections etc.
I'll check that out right now. Haven't thought about that really before.
Thank you for your help!! (again :P)
-
wheww €100.00 is too much to pay for something when you don't know what it is in my opinion :) unless you are a millionaire of course and I am not.
Rather than buying, spend time looking at online collections searching the GMB for information.
Just look at things for sale in real life, rather than buying them.
There have been multi millions of glass items produced over time - obviously a few have a high value and many do not.
Spend your hard earned € on books first :)
and by the way, mistakes still get made even many years later - I bought a piece last week and realised within seconds what it was and that I did not want it ;D too late ... but NOT €100.00 fortunately.
m
-
Well yes it is. For me too haha.
Excuse me for responding so late.
Bought myself 2 books today:
1 (Dutch): "Recognizing Antique: GLASS" .
2 (English): "The Encyclopedia of Glass" by Phoebe Phillips"
It's a beginning ;D