Topic: Is this Empoli Glass

[MarionW]

Hi, I have an orange decanter which I have been told is possibly Empoli. I keep comparing my photo to that of those on the net and cannot make up my mind. Are there any marking on Empoli glass or is there any way I can be assured this is Empoli?
Any help, guidance or information would be gratefully appreciated.
Thanks,
Marion

[chopin-liszt]

I don't know - I have a big blue one, similar to this, just the bottle is a more rounded shape.
The base is consistent with a labelled Empoli bottle I have, but that has mould lines showing on the body, while my big blue bottle does not. The labelled one is not cased glass. I don't know enough about Empoli to be able to pinpoint anything other than the more common, single colour, "genie" bottles.
This is, I think, a bit more special than the "normal" bottles.  I'd love to know too.

Welcome to the board!

[MarionW]

Thanks Sue - I am lost when it comes to glass - I have several pieces that I have no idea about - this is my major query though. Hope someone will be able to give me an idea.
Marion

[chopin-liszt]

I've never thought to ask about mine, Marion.
It came into the house undercover and got put somewhere it could "blend" and look as if it had been there for ages, so I'm really pleased you've brought it up.
I'll get pics of mine later on today to show you. I had to get a ladder and my arm extentions out to find it, and it's filthy. (I did say it's been there for ages, didn't I? Well at least it's true now. ) It needs a good clean before I can get pics.

[MarionW]

Great - killing two birds with one stone! Mine has been hidden away for years but have to clear out the cupboards now - have a couple of others that I am not sure of but will try and sort this one out first.

[Ivo]

If you do a google image search for "Empoli Opalina" (i.e. the Italian for a cased colour) you will see a ton of opalina bicolore, so for that matter your piece may well be Empoli.

However it looks as if the stopper is a bit large for the body; I associate these stoppers with tall straight-sided bottles. This stopper is also tapered and may not have been made as a hanging one, sitting on a ground and polished rim.  Of course never say never, but the piece seems to have some technical uneasiness.

Another candidate maker to look out for is Blenko.

[MarionW]

Thank you Ivo.

I had a look at Blenko and most of theirs seems to be transparent - I had another search under Opalina but couldn't find anything close enough. The only ones that kept coming up were the ones that were similar but I don't think they are exactly the same but I am no expert. Am attaching photos of two of them to compare.
Thanks for your help.
Marion

Please see this page at houzz.com

[Mod: images removed and replaced with a URL to conform with Board policy on copyright images. Only one URL is given as the two photos were actually of the same vase.]

[chopin-liszt]

The stopper on mine is equally unusually large (almost out of proportion), so it will be useful to confirm there are at least two bottles with oversized tops!
I suspect I had initially hoped Blenko, but the quality is not there, I don't think. The blue casing is of varying thicknesses all over the beast, the colour is not remotely "consistent" and there are lots of small bubbles in it too, in some, the white casing shows through (on the bottom part of the stopper), there are "wonky" bits on the rim, it's not a neat, tidy finish.

[MarionW]

One large mystery - I am hoping this mystery can be cleared up!

[chopin-liszt]

 
Right now, I'm just really pleased you brought this up. I'd hidden mine so well I'd forgotten about it. 
I've got it out and on display now - it's joined my collection of tall stoppered Empoli type bottles on top of all my kitchen cupboards. A more minor, self coloured Empoli bottle has been relegated.

They do make a lovely skyline/skyscraper sort of effect, en masse, on top of those cupboards.

They also end up all covered in greasy kitchen muck A small price to pay for the view, cleaning it... occassionally.

I have been pondering makers/origins. Japan was one ponder. So was Fiorentina.