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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: niktam on May 19, 2024, 10:45:43 AM

Title: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: niktam on May 19, 2024, 10:45:43 AM
Any thoughts on this 18 cm Ruby Vase - tried image search which brought up Hocking, but this isn't signed?
Thought I was told 30's when buying, but that was many years ago.
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: niktam on May 19, 2024, 02:15:38 PM
Hi,
Update - checked image that came up which seemed to be the same design, went to a Polish site (grayed out as sold, so couldn't double check) Listed as Zbigniew Horbowy, Sudety Glassworks, also had Barbara??? in title - would that be Barbara Banas' book?

Just looked a Poland section where this glassblower mentioned, but all seemed to be 70's very striking designs, unlike this one - does anyone have the book to check it out?
Many thanks for any help,
Marie.
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: Greg. on May 19, 2024, 02:23:36 PM
I suspect that reference refers to Barbara Glassworks Poland.
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: niktam on May 19, 2024, 03:01:57 PM
Thanks Greg,
Had no idea that such a thing existed - would that have any links to Sudety Glassworks or do you think it is just crossed wires?
Many thanks,
Marie.
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: Greg. on May 19, 2024, 03:20:04 PM
I believe Zbigniew Horbowy designed for both.
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: niktam on May 19, 2024, 03:52:05 PM
Ah, that's interesting - thank you, Greg.  That does give me a direction to check out.
All the best,
Marie.
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 19, 2024, 07:09:01 PM
This little vase is most likely Anchor Hocking. American, mould blown and quite thin.

Zbigniew Horbowy's work is much bigger, thicker and heavier, and while he may have used moulds for a cylindrical base shape, they were much more freehand in the finish.
Horbowy's work looks much more like quite adventurous studio glass. His bulges in things are rather more space-age in appearance than this very traditional little posy vase.  :)

The reference I have for Horbowy is in the Ceramics and Glass book published by the museum in Krakow. I am rather fond of his work and have a couple of bits. ;D
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: niktam on May 21, 2024, 08:44:31 AM
Hi Sue,
Sorry to have taken so long to reply.
Have enclosed a photo of the base - not sure if it is a polished pontil mark (not well up on this) if so, does that suggest a different maker?
Many thanks,
Marie.
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 21, 2024, 06:50:30 PM
Mould blown, as expected for Anchor Hocking.  :)

I can't find an example of the exact shape of your posy, but I did find a bit with a label.
This tells us the official name of the colour is Royal Ruby.
They are an old and well established maker.

https://antiquityacres.com/Anchor-Hocking-Crimped-Bud-Vase-Royal-Ruby-Red-4-1-4-Footed-Bottom-p169205581
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: niktam on May 21, 2024, 10:07:44 PM
Hi Sue,
Thank you for your time in finding this item, really helpful.
All the best,
Marie.
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 22, 2024, 12:28:07 PM
I'm just sorry it's not Horbowy for you. That would have been worth a bit more and much more exciting.
But it is a very pretty little vintage posy vase. :)
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: niktam on May 22, 2024, 03:00:59 PM
Hi Sue,
You found an example that answered my questions perfectly:  that it was moulded (I wasn't sure) and a reason why it wasn't stamped, but had a paper label (odd, when the stamp is easy to be included in a mould/and a paper label is always removed leaving no real indication of maker) - assume it was a short-lived decision and they returned to including an impressed mark.

Re: Horbowy, seeing some of his designs, it didn't seem to go, but wasn't sure when he first started.  The sold Polish listing must have been mis-sold - thank you for clearing up the confusion.
As ever, grateful for all the help given, always good to learn something new,
Marie.
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: Lustrousstone on May 23, 2024, 09:00:34 AM
It's manually blow moulded, not pressed. I don't think I've seen an impressed mark on something manually blow moulded: there is quite a bit of working after the initial blow
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 23, 2024, 04:03:39 PM
When I was digging around looking at AH bottoms I did find some with a kind of => sort of mark impressed into the bottom. I don't know if it was a mark inside the mould itself or if somebody came along and quickly pressed a tool to it when it was taken from the mould for the further working.
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: niktam on May 23, 2024, 04:57:41 PM
Thank you both - chopin-liszt & Lustrousstone,
Lustrous: I don't know enough to tell the difference between pressed and blow moulded - thank you, will have to look into it more and have a better idea of how it works.

chopin-liszt - re: bottoms, how do you find so many online references?  It seems as though Google is now restricting and limiting what can be found - is there a better search (other than here)?  Did think the other day, that it would be worthwhile to read every answered query in order to learn more and hope that it sticks, but I've only got a few items bought over the years and can no longer drive, bus service removed and mobility problems, sad to think what ever I do, whatever I have, will end up in a skip when I go.
Maybe we need a Rescue Poor Ignored Glass Society - so many pieces must be lost through lack of knowledge!
On that cheerful note - thank you all,
Marie.
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 23, 2024, 05:46:36 PM
I just searched "Anchor Hocking Royal Ruby" under images.
The full name of the company, and their name of the colour.
With the quotes, to restrict stuff.

I've just tested it. Images come up. If you click on one a bit comes up at the right hand side with a box saying visit. But underneath that, a ton more images come up.

I found a vase that has the impressed mark in the bottom. It's an anchor. (knock me over with a feather!)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133646095454

I know we do have a wonderful essay about the making of pressed glass stored away carefully in archives, written by a very highly skilled worker, for us.

There are videos of mould blowing and hand finshing on the tube.

If you are interested in glass, the first thing you really need to do is learn how it is made. Grab any opportunity you can to watch it live. Once you have a good grasp of how diffficult or easy something is to make, you have a much better grasp of the quality.
You also need to get out and about and handle as much as you can in markets, fairs and shops and talk to the sellers to find out what they know.
I'll see if I can find the essay. It is NOT boring.  ;D There is more in the discussion too.

Tada!  ;D (But please do not think I can do searches. This is a huge surprise.)

https://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,570.0.html



Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: niktam on May 24, 2024, 02:08:15 PM
Hi Sue,
Wow, I just used your wording for searching and it brought up loads - I'm obviously not being precise enough.
Thank you for the link to Pressed Glass - will read with interest.
All the best,
Marie.
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 24, 2024, 04:31:01 PM
I've just reread your last comment - I'm so sorry to hear you're now rather stuck indoors.
Me too.  ::)
So, your finding out about things being made is going to be restricted to interweb and tv.
Corning Museum of Glass have a lot of videos on the tube.
https://www.youtube.com/user/corningmuseumofglass

Netflix has a Glassblowing competition series, "Blown Away".
Once you start digging, other things come up.  :)
I hope you feel inspired and have fun with it.
Title: Re: Ruby Glass Vase
Post by: niktam on May 25, 2024, 10:19:01 AM
Hi Sue,
Yes, thankfully, being online opens a wealth of information - helps keep me sane (well, a little bit)!
Marie.