Topic: Not Murano - but what? ID help appreciated ...

[Pip]

Sorry for anyone who's already seen this posted on the Murano board but I've been told it's probably NOT Murano (opinion so far seems to be Scandi).  It's very heavy and has a lot of base wear and is shaped a little like a beak vase with coloured bands of glass (green, amber and blue) encased thickly in clear and is unsigned (obviously!).  Thats the best I can do to describe it - a couple of photos are below, any ideas? TIA...

http://tinypic.com/zn7hp1.jpg
http://tinypic.com/znam2d.jpg

[Cathy B]

Something about the colours and treatment reminds me of what is sold in Australia as Rikaro Crystal (which is made in the Czech republic, I think).  If so, it's pretty much brand new. You see a lot of it on eBay these days.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=989&item=7408510543

and here's some importer's 2006 catalogue of Rikaro
http://rikaro.com.au/Hot%20shaped%20%20vases%20&%20bowls/files/index.htm

Just an idea. What does everyone else think?

Cathy

[Sklounion]

Hi Cathy,
The 4th, 5th and 6th rows down on the importers page gives some cause for concern. Collectors of Czechoslovakian glass, particularly 1945-1990 need to be aware of these vases. I have an idea, that I recently saw one of these attributed to Jelinek, with a price to fit that attribution.
Regards,
Marcus

[Cathy B]

HI Marcus,

It's good to hear from you! Would it be worth trying to contact the importer to try to find out the name of the company that makes this Rikaro crystal? It first started on eBay a few years back, firstly unattributed or "murano", but these days is always called Rikaro - but it must be an import name because I can't find any company website.

Cheers
Cathy

[Pip]

Thanks for your reply Cathy.  My vase however is most definitely not modern, it has legitimate looking base and surface wear and was literally encrusted with dirt when I first got it.  Incidentally, I didn't buy it from eBay but was in a box of mixed vases dating from around the 1970's and from an auction house.  The items on the page you show although very interesting (thank you for that) don't bear any resemblance to my vase - so I guess the answer here is that no-one knows what this is!!!  I'm going to investigate further and I'll post back here if I find out anything.

[Max]

so I guess the answer here is that no-one knows what this is!!! I'm going to investigate further and I'll post back here if I find out anything.

Really you need Bill Geary to have a look so you can rule out Scandinavian companies like Kosta for example.

If he doesn't see this, you could put a note on the Cafe for his attention...might be a plan.  

[Frank]

Marcus,

Why not put a page on your site about look-alikes being made today?

[Pip]

Really you need Bill Geary to have a look so you can rule out Scandinavian companies like Kosta for example.

If he doesn't see this, you could put a note on the Cafe for his attention...might be a plan.  

Thanks Max but since I don't know Bill and we haven't been 'introduced' so to speak, I'm wondering if it might seem abit impertinent to post a message for his attention - is it OK to do that? I'm anxious not to put my size 7 plates in it again!  :oops:

[Max]

I'm sure Bill wouldn't mind you adding his name to a query on the Cafe board.  No-one else has been able to help and you do need to rule out some Scandi companies, and Bill is the knowledgable one on Kosta and Orrefors to name a couple of companies.

...add that Max advised you to do it...then you'd be covered.  :wink:  

PS:  His book is:  'Scandinavian Glass, Creative Energies' by Schiffer ISBN 0 7643 1709 1  

[Sklounion]

Hi Pip,
My usual candidate, if Czech, for this type of glass, is to look through the products here:
http://www.sklarna-chribska.com/products.php
Regards,
Marcus