Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Ekimp on September 12, 2019, 04:16:12 PM
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Hi, Clutching at straws here as I have no photo and not the best memory! I saw a bowl today that was solid white inside. Outside was cased with colours/patterns similar to Mdina sea and sand at the top that faded to clear at the bottom so only the white showed. There were also some random small bubbles in the colour. It was roughly hemispherical shape and even thickness with a flame treated pontil scar. Any ideas where I should look? I looked (quite quickly) online at Mdina, mtarfa, Phoenician, iow, and monart. Did Mdina make bowls that were white inside? Thanks.
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There was no white in any early Mdina, it wasn't used until ~'75, after Said took over and white was introduced in the "splodgy" designs.
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Ok, thanks Sue. It was a bit of a long shot, should’ve had a camera!
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I went back for it :) ...but my memory wasn’t very good!
It has a snapped pontil scar, it does have a few small bubbles but not part of the design. It is 6.5 inches diameter and 5 inches tall, rings nicely when flicked.
Is it Strathearn/Vasart/Nazeing? The Strathearn/Vasart bowls seem to have the colour inside and out?
Thanks.
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Not Maltese and I don't think anything to do with Ysart glass either.
I'd suspect newer than Strathearn. It might be Perthshire, but I don't know enough to confirm.
There is something annoyingly familiar about it - I just cannot think what or who. ??? ::) :-\
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Thanks, hopefully not newer Tkmaxx ;D
It’s interesting as when you look at the pattern, it looks out of focus.
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No, it's not any TKMaxx special. ;D
Something about the colours are suggesting an earlier piece by our own Adam Aaronson to me.
But it might just be the choice of colours.
Although there is a sort of "muted softness" in their application that is consistent with Adam's work.
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Sue, were you thinking William Walker?
John
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No, I know I wasn't. I can only think about one name at a time. ;D
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No, it's not any TKMaxx special.
Phew!
Something about the colours are suggesting an earlier piece by our own Adam Aaronson to me.
Adam Aaronson is another hole in my knowledge :) I’ve done a quick image search and think I see what you mean about the colours. The William Walker colours looked quite bold?
The way the pattern twists horizontally around the top reminds me of an Anthony Stern vase that I have (that you kindly identified for me sue :D )
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I believe Adam trained with Anthony Stern. I might be wrong!
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mm,that reminds me of Alum Bay glass as well.
Must just be on my mind tonight but still worth looking at I think? Sue, what do you think?
m
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Yes. It is very Alum Bay-ish too. Well spotted/remembered M. ;D
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Thanks for the suggestions. I’ve been looking at Alum Bay but not managed to find anything too similar. It doesn’t help that I can only see small thumbnail images on their own shop website. Hopefully something positive will turn up. :)
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Sorry, on second thoughts I don't think it's Alum Bay. The colours are too pretty on yours, iirc Alum Bay tends to have less of the range of colours and is more browns oriented, and the base isn't quite the right shape.
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Ok thanks, no worries. It is pretty (not my favourite adjective) but not sickly so ;D The human eye is an impressive bit of kit and does things my iPad camera can’t - it looks better in the flesh with not so much contrast between the darker top and lighter bottom.
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I think what I called white might actually be opaline type glass. I have this sat on a north facing window sill and it seems to glow even when backlit by the relatively dim indirect light. I haven’t had any opaline before so might be wrong.
(I did attempt to read the threads on what is or isn’t opaline glass but kept drifting off, there didn’t seem much agreement so have described it as opaline ‘type’ glass).
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Do you mean opalescent?
Opaline is white and opaque.
Opalescent is bluey-whiteish, semi-opaque and has an internal "fire" when the light comes through it.
If this contains Opalescent glass, it could be Selkirk. I have discovered recently that Selkirk used opalescent glass in vases. :)
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Sue, the thing with Selkirk is the snapped pontil mark right and also I think of their swirly splashy colour stuff as having pelaton strips in it.
I wonder if it's more a Studio glassmaker piece? There are/were a lot around with 'landscape' themes and this looks quite like a landscape if you see what I mean?
m
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I haven't seen too many Selkirk vases, their output was mostly weights. Christine has a pink and opalescent Selkirk vase, I can't remember what the base was like, the little cylinder I have here has a large round polished pontil mark.
I'm only just at the beginnings of noticing Selkirk using opalescent glass in some of their Studio vases.
I've seen all of two. ;D
This is Christine's. I suspect it does not have a broken pontil mark, as it is properly marked on the base.
http://lustrousstone.co.uk/cpg/displayimage.php?pid=2765
http://lustrousstone.co.uk/cpg/displayimage.php?pid=2766
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I think I must have meant opalescent ;D
Thanks for thoughts and the link, I’ve not managed to find much Selkirk that isn’t a paper weight. I see Anthony Stern does landscapes and has used opalescent glass (not sure if used in his bowls though). That would be nice but feels like it might remain an unknown.
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I looked at quite a bit of Anthony Stern glass when looking for similar to this, especially the opalescent white, but without much success. Now this signed Anthony Stern bowl has just been posted (thanks susan100) http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,69970.0.html
I think the base shape and pontil scar look very similar to my bowl and with a similar cased opalescent white. The signed bowl substitutes the multi-coloured casing in my bowl with clear casing containing control bubbles. The profile is different in the top half, the other bowl being more spherical, but it’s a similar size and makes me think Anthony Stern is a good possibility for my bowl...or is that more straw clutching? ;D
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It reminds me of a couple of things.
Firstly the colours and a little bit the way they're laid on reminds me of my Webb Corbett Agate flambe bowls. The white interior is fine for that as well. However the way the white is half the body and the way the base and pontil mark are finished do not. The curve of the base, the snapped pontil mark remind me of more contemporary studio glass.
The shape of the body and way is indents very very slightly near the rim reminds me of a Scheider bowl I have. But I think it would be signed most likely.
However I'm not sure the way the colours are laid on does. Is it signed anywhere on the bowl?
An example here of a Schneider bowl so you can see what I mean about the colours and how the way the bowl is composed reminds me of Scheider:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/264681625/stunning-large-french-art-deco-pate-de?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=schneider+art+glass&ref=sr_gallery-2-16
Another here
https://www.proantic.com/en/display.php?mode=obj&id=526290
I think it's most likely a contemporary studio glass piece to be honest.
I don't know if it's by Anthony Stern but it may be worth contacting him to ask?
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Hi, thanks for the info and links. I see what you mean about the Schneider bowls (I think that’s the closest match I’ve seen), the only thing is is that there is a definite horizontal swirl or twist to the top section of my bowl, which was what put me in mind of Anthony Stern. I had ruled out Stern as I hadn’t found any bowls with similar white, I think I’ll try asking him but keep an open mind.
The bowl is in a box in the back of a cupboard at the moment but I’ll dig it out and check for signatures. There weren’t any engraved signatures, but I may have missed something more subtle on the white, like Schneider. It’s good the way you come across a lead on an item when you’re not expecting it!
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Had another look, definitely not signed or marked. I’ve added a photo of the bottom for comparison with the signed example.
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Can I be a pain and ask for a side on photograph a little more distanced than your first one, and against a darker background? It might help show up the profile shape of the bowl a bit more and may show the colours differently as well.
It's a difficult one.
The snapped pontil mark is not right for Schneider (I'm pretty sure).
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and it still reminds me of Alum Bay glass - partly the way the colour is laid on, partly the browns in use which they seemed fond of, and also the white interior.
I have seen different pontil mark finishes on their work - a piece on ebay which appears to now have a polished pontil and a clear label on it. The ones I've seen that are older have a rounded base and then it appears to be pushed in slightly in donut type finish with a snapped pontil mark.
I think the shape of your bowl is much more appealing/attractive and the colours in the glass etc - than the shapes and colours of their glass though (apologies for being critical to Alum Bay - beauty in the eye of the beholder etc)
This is what I think of when I think of their glass:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alum-Bay-Hand-Blown-Glass-Bud-Vase-Purple-Swirl-Isle-of-Wight-Glass/333719347586?hash=item4db3392182:g:f3cAAOSwh4ZfJtpG
Difficult one :)
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I appreciate the help so not a pain to take more photos, thanks :)
The photos below are outside in daylight but not direct sun, and on a black background. The one showing the profile was about 1.5m away but I cropped the photo after. The glass is translucent so maybe partially backlit from within.
I had one of those brown Alum Bay vases until about two weeks ago, when it went back to the charity shop - I always seem to need something after getting rid of it! It was one like you describe with the snapped pontil mark. I see some similarities with the colour etc but feel this bowl is more artistic and more of a one off, if that makes sense. When I had the Alum bay vase it never struck me that they might share origins, I don’t know if they made stuff like this that might have been a more limited run?
I agree this bowl is more appealing than the usual Alum Bay, the one I had anyway :)
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I think it's a lovely piece of more recent Studio Glass.
The shape is great but for some reason - just gut instinct here so I could be completely
wrong - it seems taller and a more contemporary shape than something from the 30s (Schneider etc) for example.
The snapped off pontil mark also makes me think possibly the finish from a Studio - rather than a polished pontil mark.
The way the colours are laid on is not 'fluffy' enough for French 1930s - I've no idea how they managed it but it's a peculiar and particular way of using the colour (maybe powders or something rather than 'chips' of coloured glass rolled on the marver)
The way the colour are used and laid on - the colours remind me of what seemed to be a trend a few years ago to create 'landscape' vases.
But the way the colours are laid on and swirled makes me think it's a good maker.
My instinct if it was a Studio piece is that they would normally sign however I have a Karlin Rushbrooke piece for example, very typically his work, confirmed by him as it is his work, yet he forgot to sign it. That happens.
I had been thinking perhaps someone like Lesley Stuart Clarke but couldn't see anything in her repertoire like that.
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See above
Also wondering if it could be Norwegian or German Studio glass - I have checked out Gro Bergslien but I think not because unsigned, pontil mark not right and couldn't find anything that similar in terms of decor.
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It is defintiely opalescent. So I'm leaning very much towards Selkirk. Selkirk kind of grew from Ysart glass- it's an end of the line branch of that, set up by Peter Holmes.
Some more info. here. :)
And an image of one posy vase.
http://www.scotlandsglass.co.uk/cms/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=208&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=6
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Thanks again both.
It reminds me of the cloud bands and storms on a gas giant planet. As I said before, it is odd when you look at it that it looks out of focus, as though there is a shadow around the bits of colour. When you look closely that effect disappears completely, so it’s a weird optical illusion. You can even see the effect in the photos but it’s not so obvious. I have added a couple of details that are areas from the photos above.
There’s a signed Anthony Stern bowl here https://www.gildings.co.uk/auction/lot/537-anthony-stern-a-studio-glass-vase-internally/?lot=11664&sd=1 that looks to have some similarities in how the colours were done. He did landscape glass too.
I’ll have to have another look at Selkirk. I’m not too sure I like that Selkirk bowl to be honest...it looks a bit like a decorator’s overalls ;D (sorry Selkerk). Although the detail on my bowl is random, there looks to be control in how it was applied. The top isn’t perfectly parallel with the base so I don’t know if that would be enough to warrant it not being signed.
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ekimp, would you be kind enough to send me a message via the envelope under my name - I've found pics of another Selkirk vase with opalescent glass in, and different colours and textures. I can't resize to put them here since windows7 died on me.
If I had your email address, I could send you the pics.
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Adding some photos that Sue sent (thanks) of a Selkirk cylinder vase that has opalescent glass at the base - it's white opaque glass at the top. Unfortunately the images shrank during messaging so they are a little small.
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...and a splodgy bucket with no opalescents.
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Anthony Stern signed pontil mark here and with an impressed mark on the pontil scar - just in case it helps in the future. The second link is to a vase of his.
https://www.picclickimg.com/00/s/MTA2M1gxNjAw/z/urcAAOSwp49evvMu/$/Stunning-Art-glass-vase-by-Anthony-Stern-signed-_57.jpg
https://picclick.co.uk/Stunning-Art-glass-vase-by-Anthony-Stern-signed-402436763756.html
Sue, I don't know about Selkirk. I know what you mean about their use of opalescent glass but I just don't get 'Selkirk' vibes from this bowl.
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It is a great test of my little theory, m. ;D
If this bowl isn't Selkirk, opalescent glass use in a studio piece is not a "marker" for Selkirk.
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I’ve sent Anthony Stern a message just incase. Hopefully I’ll hear back one way or the other and will update here if I do.
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m, do you get any "Selkirk vibes" from either the cylinder or the bucket?
I certainly didn't when I saw them - the labels were a big surprise. ;D
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not the bucket but definitely the cylinder. I had one similar in pinkish colours with pink pelaton strips I think it was.
The cylinder is what I think of when I think of Selkirk.
The bucket is made of lots of small chips of glass and to be honest I'd have thought it was from Bath Aqua (did a glassblowing course there to make a paperweight full of small coloured chips).
I think lots of makers use the small coloured chips effect. But the cylinder vase is definitely Selkirk's style :)
I like the cylinders but I find too many makers make shapes that just don't do it for me. I love a bottle ish shape pot or a bowl shaped like Ekimp's - something contemporary looking. That's why I don't like Alum Bay glass I think - none of the shapes talk to me. Basically I can't stand anything that looks boring or has a frill or wave around the rim. The frill/wave thing knocks a lot of things out when searching ebay for interesting items ;D A bit like you and your dislike of pink whereas I love pink glass!
m
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I don't do frilly bits either.
But I just went upstairs (living dangerously!) and found both another Selkirk vase - deep blue footed bottle shape with gold web resist patterns on - and a fairly recent bit of Alum Bay which might be to your taste, and is a far more interesting shape - a flared rim posy, a bit squished to make it have an angular profile. no pics and none on the web. :'(
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This shape's nice Sue:
https://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,37066.msg202403.html#msg202403
But why oh why do they use 1970's colours for everything. Is purple and pink too hard to source - a lovely combination of purple and turquoise would have been good for this bowl.
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My posy is clear greeny blue, with a sort of organised splodge pattern in reddy amber which I think was produced using silver salts, as the splodges have a yellow silvery surround. They have been swirled sround a bit - it's fabby and all clear. Plastic sticky label, so fairly recent. :)
I got sick of the various nicotine stain colours in the '70s/'80s too. I have not recovered. ;D
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ooh, no, it's just suddenly come to me. I'm not thinking of Selkirk Sue. I've been thinking of Stuart Strathearn and the Impressions range. Sorry! got confused with the Stuart Strathearn and the Selkirks :-[
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The original bowl we're talking about is neither Strathearn or Stuart Strathearn. I was getting a little confused with your description of colours. ;)
They don't use opalescent glass. :)
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Yes I know :) I mixed up Selkirk and SS in my head and it suddenly occurred to me this morning.
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Has Siddy Langley used opalescent glass? I’ve been looking at some of her work and think she might be a possibility for my bowl. Looking at this one on her website: https://siddy-langley-glass.myshopify.com/collections/vases/products/pheasant-feather-rosebowl-1 the patch of filament type decoration, right of centre, looks similar to my bowl, sort of out of focus. Some of the other ‘Feather’ items have similar areas https://siddy-langley-glass.myshopify.com/collections/vases/feathers
Think the shape is ok, and the pontil mark is ok although some have ground bases (more recent examples?).
Never heard anything back from Anthony Stern btw.
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Ekimp, Anthony Stern https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/anthony-stern-obituary-psychedelic-artist-film-glass
If it is a Siddy bowl she might respond if you email to ask?
I still have a funny feeling it's Webb Corbett. I really do. The shape reminds me of something else as well. Something French I think,the way it gently curves in slightly at the top. Can't think what though.
m
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Thanks for the link, had no idea.
Yes, I might try asking her but don’t like to bother people unless there is a good chance.
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I'm not convinced about Siddy Langley to be honest :-X
About 10 years ago and perhaps more recently, I noticed many studio glassmakers were doing seascape and landscape type bowls. The kind of laid on design of colours that looks like scenery if you see what I mean. It seemed to be a 'thing' for a while amongst quite a few.
The one thing that puts me off Webb Corbett is the curve to the base and the pontil mark finish. That reminds me a lot of Alum Bay glass, both the curve and the pontil mark finish. The thing that puts me off Alum Bay is the colours and possibly the shape of the whole thing side on.
hmm,I'm sticking with 'very Webb Corbett-like'.
m
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I couldn’t find anything from Siddy Langley that is opalescent like mine so quite possibly not hers. I noticed Anthony Stern did landscapes too. ‘Webb-Corbett like’ might be as good as it gets :)