Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: artmustel on January 31, 2007, 10:10:02 PM
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Hello. I would like to ID this glass centerpiece. No marks; it is heavy, that is about all I can say, and measures approx. 12" wide for 8" high. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks!
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m273/artmustel/center3.jpg
mod: large image converted to link
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Looks like Chalet (shape) or Italian (colour) to me, but then, I don't know much. :)
Carolyn
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Welcome to the GMB. Chalet of Canada is a possibility. Try looking here www.mblaisgallery.com/dynamic/artists/Chalet_Art_Glass_Glass.asp
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Hi artmustel and welcome to the board.
Don't be discouraged by it taking some time to get an answer. Sometimes it's taken me years to find out the identity of a piece.
My feeling is that this piece is neither Chalet nor Murano. Going out on a limb here, but US art glass of some sort perhaps?
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I don't have a clue. I bought this piece yesterday at a thrift store. I am not the person that buys this kind of objects, however something on it caught my eye...(beauty, I think). Indeed it is different, but sadly it has no a brand, or mark on it. I noticed that the bottom of the piece is rough to the tact. And it is not transparent (my first impression was like if someone put candle wax on it) however whatever it is is inside the glass. The piece is heavy, and has a very few tiny bubbles. Is there anything else that I may look to help ID it? Thanks!
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A photo of the base is usually helpful too when id'ing (or trying to!) pieces. Could you add a closeup of the base please? (Tip: Use your camera's macro function if it has one, to get a good sharp closeup.)
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Hi, here is a picture of the centerpiece's bottom:
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m273/artmustel/bottom.jpg
I appreciate your help/ Thanks!
mod: large image converted to link
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That is a badly finished piece and I would think it is Mexican. The seedy quality of the glass points there, as does the colour, the careless design and the awkward bottom finish. If you're located in North America the probability goes up; many souvenir pieces are carried back by tourists.
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I don't understand your comment about "seedy glass"; piece does not look so bad, now I AM a bad photographer. I appreciate your response however I feel that something is wrong with it.
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I believe that, in glass terms, seedy glass means it contains air bubbles, rather than the better-known meaning of seedy, as in tacky/cheap looking.
The base finish looks very rough, and I'd be guided by Ivo when he says it could be Mexican (he has the experience to know.) If it were a European piece I'd have expected the base to be flat and polished smooth.
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The piece is heavy, and has a very few tiny bubbles.
Tiny bubbles are known as "seeds" in glass terms, most Mexican glass is "seedy". Sorry for confusing you.
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Tiny bubbles are known as "seeds" in glass terms
How interesting, I didn't know that ... thanks Ivo.
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Since I'm so ignorant regarding glass and other many matters, I searched in Google for "seedy glass", and it showed a lot of pictures of frosted glass. The piece which pictures I posted here is not frosted at all. Now I remember many years ago my parents brought from Czechoslovakia some nice and colorful glass pieces, and coincidentally all of them had those tiny bubbles. Now that country is in Europe, although at the time it was a communist country (maybe this fact excluded it from the european context).
And I'm not an american who brought this piece from Mexico. Rather the other way around.
Thanks.
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As we said above, artmustel (that sounds so formal, do you have a personal name we can call you?) seedy glass contains bubbles. Some glazing glass makers use the same term to describe their types of glazing glass, some of which is frosted or bubbled-surface textured. But your piece isn't made from glazing glass, so that's not relevant here. :) Seeds are the tiny bubbles in the glass. In some pieces bubbles are good, they are put their deliberately as part of the design (i.e. Whitefriars controlled bubbled glass, Pulegoso (frothy) bubbled glass as made in Murano, etc.), but in many other items they are not meant to be there and may be a sign that the glass is made to a cheaper standard or lower quality. Much of this glass is made in places such as Mexico, Spain, China. In the design you have, if it was made by a quality maker I should expect to see no bubbles at all. It is a pretty decorative piece, true, but in my opinion is not a high-quality piece. It's one of those things you buy because you like it rather than for its high value (I have a lot of similar glassware!) :) Hope this helps.
Useful links:
http://www.glassonline.com/infoserv/dictionary/591.html Definition of seed
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,4367.0.html Dots in glass - discussion of seeds in glass
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Anne, Artmustel is my name (ARTuro MUSTELier). Thanks for finding my nickname so formal. If you look the posts above this one you will find less formal nicks that I don't think are real names. And I didn't ask because I wanted that my piece was a legit Murine or Chalot or whatever; I just was curious (and I have many interests, so I love forums) because it was UNUSUAL for me, although it is a POS for some sophisticated member of this forum, that was manufactured in a POS country. I'm glad I won't need to ask here again since some members are so full of it and prejudice.
(Response by Moderator - Svazzo)
Please, there is no need for this. You have misunderstood the previous comments.
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Your apparent disappointment with the attribution does not change it, Arturo. You have not scored a major work of art, and there is no point in getting abusive about it.
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What is wrong with a bit of primitivity in glass, Mexican glass is not bad per se, I have some Mexican glass in my collection. You get seed bubbles in some of the finest glass but yes it is often a feature in countries that are not very wealthy, the glassmakers have to be more efficient to survive and use glass that a lush company might be able to afford to just throw away.
In another thread we have a piece of art glass that has been made recycled glass. There is often a snobbery associated with a glass origin but then there are many others who find that the social story that the glass can tell is as fascinating as the handful of names that can produce the ultimate it technical sterility >:D or perfection. My preference is more for a piece of art glass that imparts the feelings of the maker or useable glass that is the right shape, size and weight for comfortable use.
Ysart Glass is in many respects a very primitive glass and invariably contains not only seed bubbles but other contaminants in the mix.
Likewise when we deal with people from different countries and communicate in one language, English - that for many members is a second language the we must apply tolerance to interactions. It is of course inevitable that people will get irritated with each other, but just concentrate on the glass not the people please. We are a serious board interested in expanding and sharing knowledge of glass.
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It's a real shame that this thread deteriorated to the extent it did. New posters really need to be made aware that this forum doesn't provide instant answers to questions and patience is needed in getting an attribution - sometimes it takes days yet other times it takes months if ever at all. Also, when people ask a question about their piece of glass there's absolutely no point in then refusing to accept what's been suggested - a lot of people, me included, post glass up here that turns up to have been a chinese repro/copy, or a POS ;D - it happens, and getting aggressive and calling people names is not the done thing and not necessary at all IMO. Ivo really does know his stuff and doesn't deserve to be cross-examined over the information he has offered. I do hope Arturo continues to post and contribute to this board but without the attitude - good manners are de rigeur on this board - that's why I like it so much!
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Ok everyone, lets leave it at that.
No need to start insulting people or their countries.
We are here to talk about glass, and if mentioning how a technique of making it might be harder or easier than another, there is certainly no need to call someone out on it, take ofence or anything of the sort. If you wanted information that is what you received. Now lets leave this alone before it really gets out of hand.
Also, theres no need to retaliate. This talk will now be closed.
Javier - Moderator