Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: neil53 on October 23, 2023, 11:56:24 AM
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Hi, any idea who made this?
Description: The figurine is in the form of an elephant with a raised trunk and measures 9 cm (3.4 inches) across at its widest point. The figurine is 16 cm (6.4 inches) in height and is blown in dark glass flecked with white (silver leaf?) and encased in clear glass. There are some tiny chips to the ouside of the base. There are no other chips, cracks, significant scratches or any obvious evidence of restoration.
It weighs in at 420 g. (~ 15 oz.).
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:)
It could well be a "Maximal" from St John's Crystal on the Isle of Man, made under license from Michael Harris at Isle of Wight Studio Glass, until it all went wrong around '85 and the license was withdrawn.
I have never personally seen an elephant although I know they were made.
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Thank you Sue, I know you know your animal figurines so I'll follow that up and report back. Kind regards, Neil
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Oh dear no! :o
I know a bit about Michael Harris, and I know about the Minimals and Maximals series, but virtually nothing about glass animals.
I had to look the book up to check my reply. But I do think the modelling as well as the Azurene decor looks right for this series.
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Three bits from St Johns that Sue mentioned and a snail from Isle of Wight Studio Glass. Yours might be contemporary, maybe Chinese. Bit of a stock answer but given how much has been exported in recent decades and it's low cost the stuff is everywhere now.
John
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There were problems when St John's tried to use colours, they didn't work very well.
I've just found the images on Anton's site. There are a couple of elephants illustrated, and this would tend to confirm John's suspicion of some of the better and newer work coming from the far east.
Sorry, Neil.
https://iowstudioglass.wikidot.com/minimals#:~:text=Minimals%20were%20made%20first%2C%20between,or%20just%20gold%20foil%20applied.
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Possibly another by Formia? There are pieces online in a similar colour.
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Having recently (last day or so) been looking at a Formia duck with silver foil, that might be a possibility.
I do think the modelling is good. Better than most from China - but that doesn't mean a bit with good modelling cannot come from China. ???
I've searched for Formia elephant and they seem to have raised trunks, but I can only find sitting babies with the foil decor.
Peprhaps you might be able to compare the construction though?
https://www.goantiques.com/vintage-formia-vetri-144826026
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Formia-Vetri-Di-Murano-Glass-Black-Silver-Elephant-Figurine-Art-Made-In-Italy-/233722220342?_ul=IL
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Funny looking elephant on the ebay link :)
Here is one on Alibaba that looks very similar, 17cm tall.
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Exquisite-Silver-Foil-Art-Handmade-Glass_1600698030352.html
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I agree- it could be a mouse or a rabbit if it had slightly different ears/tail.
But it does have a Formia sticker. The other one also has a Murano label.
I know labels can be moved.
The big ali-baba one does look to be similar modelling to the one in question - and the colours are quite like the Formia duck I saw.
I'm much better with real animals than glass ones.
Which isn't saying much. :-[
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Thank you all for your input. The elephant owes me nothing as it came in a job lot so I'm happy to believe it's Chinese. Sorry for the later reply but I've had some emergency issues in the house. Kind regards, Neil
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No need to apologise, I hope the issues are resolved. I think we all know a lot of people have been having terrible troubles with storms.
I just hope you're all ok.
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Thank you all, yes, it’s an internal house issue rather than due directly to the storm although they may turn out to be related. Just enough aggravation from it to disturb my normal screen time but not enough to spoil my quality of life. If I ever find out that my elephant is other than Chinese I will let you know. I think the attribution is probably correct however. Kind regards, Neil