Topic: Cut crystal red/white vase (St. Lambert?)

[SilviaVB]

Hi, can you help me ID and date this vase?
The seller told me it's Val St. Lambert, but this is not my field of expertise. I have found the same vase on line, from what I see it should be a  "pique fleurs", but the grill is missing.
It is quite heavy, I would say it is crystal (not glass).

Can you confirm it is Val St. Lambert, and if it is how old it can be?

Any help would be very useful, thank you.

[Anne Tique]

Hello Silvia,

Yes, this is made by VSL, the model is called 'Lubeck' and the design is registered under the number 3247/17.
It is illustrated in the catalogue 'Cristaux de Fantaisie' of 1926 but it could be as early as 1920.

The design on your vase is also called 'Taille Riche' and  can be found back on bowls, decanter's, vases, glasses etc... basically on everything.  It was a very popular design that was still used in the 90ies, but only on decanter's and glasses. I need to check if it's was still used later on. This rose bowl though, is typical of the first quarter of the 20th century.

The rims on these pique-fleurs come in an uncut and like yours, cut version. On the uncut version a copper grill was used, on the cut ones a pressed glass grill, marked Val St Lambert, that fits in the vase, so the cut design is visible. Either grill can be found at flea- and antique markets and they pop up every now and then on the internet, if you're looking for a replacement, but make sure you'll get the right size though.

[SilviaVB]

Thank you very much Anne Tique, this was really helpful!

[SilviaVB]

The color is "amethyst", right? (not cranberry).

[Anne Tique]

The color is "amethyst", right? (not cranberry).

VSL was always very poetic when it came to using names for colours ... orange wasn't just called like that but 'Aurore', pistache was called 'jaune-absinthe' and this colour was called 'violet-évêque' or cardinal purple.

Améthyste used in the 30ies was more plum/eggplant in colour, améthyste from the 60/70's was lavender.