Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Mosquito on June 09, 2024, 12:34:41 PM
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While going through my saved eBay searches for art deco glass, I found a gallery in France offering a selection of design drawings by P. d’Avesn. Some are recognisable designs which went into production, but others do not look familiar. One sketch though did particularly catch my eye: http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=144757195350
This looks very close to Jobling’s Three Graces Comport. The overall proportions, the profile of the foot, and the handling of the figures’ clothing is all a very good match. The only significant difference is that the sketch shows the figures’ arms raised to support the bowl, whereas in the Jobling piece as produced, their arms hang by their sides. Of course it is not unusual for designs to be refined before (or even after) going into production. Another minor difference is the fine ribbed pattern on the foot and towards the centre of the bowl on the Jobling piece.
It is documented in Baker and Crowe that the Jobling piece was French designed and the plaster model sculpted by Etienne Franckhauser. However, Baker and Crowe state that the French designer or designers from whom Jobling purchased the original 2d drawings remain unknown. Could one of them have been Pierre d’Avesn? If this sketch is genuine, I think there’s a case for at least entertaining that possibility.
Sadly my own Three Graces comport is still in the UK at the moment, so I only have some older pics of it:
https://www.yobunny.org.uk/glassgallery/displayimage.php?pos=-10027
https://www.yobunny.org.uk/glassgallery/displayimage.php?pos=-10025
Another example I used to own:
https://www.yobunny.org.uk/glassgallery/displayimage.php?pos=-5952
There are some good photos of a similar example on Black Poppy’s site here: https://www.black-poppy.co.uk/Jobling/ (scroll down)
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It is really close. Amazing find. Is the woman's dress different though and the shoulder drape to the left on the drawing and to the right on the Jobling? along with the arms being different. The arms might be different because of difficulty making the mold with arms raised perhaps?
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It is really close. Amazing find. Is the woman's dress different though and the shoulder drape to the left on the drawing and to the right on the Jobling?
It's hard to check the exact details as I don't have the Jobling piece in front of me. Each figure on the Jobling piece is slightly different and has a different position/features (posture, head tilt, arm position, etc.). Regarding the dress, it looks the same to me as far as I can see in terms of the overall shape and how the creases are handled. The diagonal fall of the fabric at the knee is also the same, as are the folds to the rear towards the lower portion of the column, though the exact details do differ figure-to-figure.
I'm now debating whether to buy the drawing -- there's also another in the seller's items which matches a pre-1937 Verlys pattern, which again if genuine, would confirm my suspicions that d'Avesn designed for Verlys before his official employment there.
Given how prolific d'Avesn appears to be, as well as his documented work for numerous glassworks, it may not be such a big surprise that he may have designed for Jobling as well. However, I'd never have suspected the three graces comport as a d'Avesn design: however, I've always thought the B2 Fish Vase, especially the handling of the stylised waves/ripples, has a very d'Avesn look.