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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: catshome on September 01, 2006, 05:40:16 PM

Title: Oversized Brandy Glasses/Balloon Vases
Post by: catshome on September 01, 2006, 05:40:16 PM

Hi All,

Has anybody come across any detailed information on these large glass vases, anywhere at all?  The history of them, or who the main makers were, or even what country started making them (and I have to ask why?!).

I remember seeing them in the 60s with Beswick cats and mice in and on them, but I don't know if they started before that or how they came to be made.

There are so many around down here at the moment that I have bought 2 this week already and seen about 20 in varying sizes.  None seem to be marked and the only real differences seem to be coloured or clear stem, straight or twisted stem, clear or cased bowl.

There is a very great risk of my little flat turning into a home for abandoned and unwanted balloon vases.............so it would be quite nice to know a bit more about them!

Thank you
Cat

Title: Oversized Brandy Glasses/Balloon Vases
Post by: Pat on September 01, 2006, 06:16:47 PM

I think they came from everywhere! I thought they were all italian until I got one with a swedish import label.

Title: Oversized Brandy Glasses/Balloon Vases
Post by: bidda on September 05, 2006, 02:43:37 AM

Cat,
I'm hoping that you can uncover some information with your querry here. I have one such vase and was told by a member of another forum that she was certain it was made by Westmoreland. However, I wrote to the Old Westmoreland Glass Works Guild with photos and they were equally certain that it wasn't.  :?
Mine has a rib/dot optic pattern, is approx. 29 cm tall, has a "dimple" pontil and no maker marks. Here are a couple images in case anyone might recognize either the shape or pattern because I'm having a dickens of a time finding any solid information.
http://www.schellers.org/ebay_images/redcom1.jpg
http://www.schellers.org/ebay_images/redcom2.jpg

Thanks for looking,

Bidda

Title: Oversized Brandy Glasses/Balloon Vases
Post by: catshome on September 05, 2006, 09:16:58 AM

Hi Bidda,

That's a beautiful piece.  I have something similar in blue with a diamond pattern that makes it resemble a thistle - I'll try and add a pic later today.  I think those will be easier to attribute than the plain large bowled vases that I'm curious about.  It might help with your one if you could add a picture of its bottom  :oops: !

Good luck
Cat

Title: Oversized Brandy Glasses/Balloon Vases
Post by: bidda on September 05, 2006, 05:59:18 PM

Ha ha! Will do that this afternoon, after I'm through packing and posting my lastest sales.

Best,

Bidda

Quote from: "catshome"

Hi Bidda,

That's a beautiful piece.  I have something similar in blue with a diamond pattern that makes it resemble a thistle - I'll try and add a pic later today.  I think those will be easier to attribute than the plain large bowled vases that I'm curious about.  It might help with your one if you could add a picture of its bottom  :oops: !

Good luck
Cat

Title: Oversized Brandy Glasses/Balloon Vases
Post by: bidda on September 06, 2006, 07:33:34 PM

okie dokie, here are a few more pictures of this "brandy vase", including the bottom which shows the pontil as little more than a glare... hope they're helpful in the search for an ID :)

http://www.schellers.org/ebay_images/redcom3.jpg
http://www.schellers.org/ebay_images/redcom4.jpg
http://www.schellers.org/ebay_images/redcom5.jpg

Thanks,
Bidda

Title: Oversized Brandy Glasses/Balloon Vases
Post by: Ivo on September 06, 2006, 08:23:24 PM

I vote for Empoli...

Title: Oversized Brandy Glasses/Balloon Vases
Post by: bidda on September 06, 2006, 09:19:15 PM

Ivo, searched for Empoli throughout the threads here and found a link that you recommended to another glassy http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,5131.0.html (http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,5131.0.html) but, it didn't work for me :( Then I tried just going to http://glassoholic.yobunny.org.uk/ (http://glassoholic.yobunny.org.uk/) and searching for Empoli from there but there were 0 hits. Any idea on where else I might find more info?

Thanks,
Bidda

Title: Oversized Brandy Glasses/Balloon Vases
Post by: Anne on September 07, 2006, 12:13:14 AM

Hi Bidda, the links library moved to http://glasslinks.yobunny.org.uk/  so the page you want for Empoli is http://glasslinks.yobunny.org.uk/articles.php?lng=en&pg=66 :)

Title: Oversized Brandy Glasses/Balloon Vases
Post by: bidda on September 07, 2006, 02:27:22 AM

Thanks, Anne... if only I could competently read italian :) There was one site that featured a similar stem, though, (consorzio) I've been told it's "classical" and found by many firms. I always appreciate a venue for more information, though :)

Bidda

Title: Oversized Brandy Glasses/Balloon Vases
Post by: Connie on September 07, 2006, 10:42:25 AM

I am with Ivo on the Empoli attribution.

These oversized brandy snifters were very popular in the 1970s.  No modern home in the US in the 70s was complete without one.  My parents still have one in Mediterrean Blue in their formal living room.

I think as these homes go to estate sales we will see a lot more of them in the US.

Title: Re: Oversized Brandy Glasses/Balloon Vases
Post by: catshome on February 01, 2007, 03:21:28 PM

Hi Bidda,

You might find this link useful (if it works!).  You can cut and paste Italian into the box and press a button and it will give you an "interesting" version in English.............

http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr

It works for lots of languages - I'm quite surprised how often I use it!

Cat