Vintage & Contemporary Glass
Scandinavian Glass Dish, probably Kosta Boda, 1970s
Price: £45
A Scandinavian glass dish of slightly irregular form decorated with sprays of fern and a pseudo Chinese seal mark. The form and technique and style of decoration of this piece resemble closely very similar dishes made in various designs by the well known Swedish firm Kosta Boda. None of these are marked but the designs are distinctive and this is most likely what we have here. These dishes seem to have been table ware and were made in a range of sizes; the dimensions here imply a serving dish. The decoration is formed by the hand pressing of the glass into a mould. The topside is smooth while the underside is modelled with the design. There is a well known series of Kosta dishes comprising a hand made set in the 'Party' pattern and designed by Ann & Goran Warff in 1975. The similarities here imply a similar dating.
Kosta Boda, previously known as Kosta Glasbruk, is a Swedish glassmaking company founded by two foreign officers in Charles XII's army, Anders Koskull and Georg Bogislaus Staël von Holstein, in 1742.It is located in Kosta, Sweden. Early production consisted of window glass, chandeliers and drinking glasses. From the 1840s, the factory was at the forefront of new trends and technical developments, producing pressed glass, and in the 1880s setting up a new glass-cutting workshop. In 1903, the company merged with the Reijmyre glassworks but both retained their own names and Kosta went on to maintain its reputation as one of the leading Swedish manufacturers with a range of fine art glass and tableware by distinguished designers such as Vicke Lindstrand, artistic director from 1950-1973.
Art Deco style Amber Glass Rocket Vase, probably Czech Rosice 1930s
Price: £45
An Amber Glass Vase of fluted form, the slender body flaring from the base to form a wide shaped rim and supported by three modelled feet resembling rocket fins. The style of this vase is obvious and it seems to have been made during the period whose ethos it matches. The manufacturing technique is that of pressed glass in which molten glass was pressed into a mould with a plunger and many factories were producing similar pieces from the 1920s to the 1940s. These rocket form vases are generally held to be Czech and made during the 1930s. They resemble pieces made by the 'Rosice' factory which started production in 1920 and continued under various owners, with occasional periods of closure, until 1996. A 'heyday' period was under the proprietorship of Vaclav Hrdina from 1928 to 1931 and Hrdina was known to have promoted the manufacture of pressed glass pieces of which this design is likely to have been one. The colour is excellent and the quality of work perhaps superior to some of the pieces being made in England at that time.
A Pair of Art Deco Pressed Glass Trophy Form Vases, Davidson, 1930s
Price: £45
A Pair of pressed glass vases of hexagonal form, the rounded body with a lobed rim and standing on a shaped foot, two handles to the sides in the shape of a trophy. These pieces resemble similar designs in clear pressed glass made by the Davidson factory in the 1930s. George Davidson founded the Teams Flint Glass Works in 1867, which later became known as George Davidson & Co. In the 1880s the company began producing pressed glass tableware in a variety of shapes and by the 1920s their designs began to reflect the new Art Deco trends. The firm continued production until the 1980s, closing in 1987. These vases come from their 'Chippendale' range and were probably made in the 1930s. It has been suggested that this and other similar forms were intended to hold celery. Normally sold singly, it is less common to find a matching pair with their obvious decorative potential.
A Blue Glass Sunburst Bowl, probably by Pavel Panek, Czech 1980s
Price: £150
A Blue Glass 'Sunburst' Design Bowl of shallow form with straight flaring sides modelled with repeating icicle like shards with pointed edges, the base flat and with an indented foot. The design here is very much representative of the Art Deco period but was made much later. The manufacturing technique is that of pressed glass in which molten glass is pressed into a mould with a plunger. This was the most common way to produce inexpensive glass from the middle of the 19th century onwards and enjoyed a great vogue in England in the 1920s and 1930s. But this piece is most likely the work of the Czech designer Pavel Panek who worked for Sklo Union, Czechoslovakia and dates to the late 1970s/early 1980s. Very similar pieces form part of Tauno Wirkkala's 'Northern Lights' series for the Humppila glassworks in Finland but most of his pieces are signed and the modelling of his 'sunburst' designs less precise. This bowl is of an exceptionally large size and has miraculously survived undamaged with all its pointed edges intact. A truly distinctive centrepiece recreating the style of an earlier era.
Davidson Glass Topaz Briar Table Centrepiece, 1930s
Price: £45
A matching glass bowl, flower holder and stand, the bowl with flaring sides with a band of moulded diamond work above a squat circular foot, the flower holder (or ‘frog’) circular with twelve holes and moulded marks reading ‘Made in England’ ‘Pat’ ‘3290’ [?] ‘31’, the circular stand stepped and with three feet.
George Davidson founded the Teams Flint Glass Works in 1867, which later became known as George Davidson & Co. In the 1880s the company began producing pressed glass tableware in a variety of shapes and by the 1920s their designs began to reflect the new Art Deco trends. The firm continued production until the 1980s, closing in 1987. Some of their catalogues still exist and one from the early 1930s shows a piece very similar to this one (see image 11). The colour is known as ‘Topaz Briar’ and the swirling effects resemble other pieces in their ‘cloud glass’ range, a pattern for which the firm was famous.
The colourings and small size of this piece make it an unusual find amongst the Davidson wares which can be seen today and the presence of all three elements (perfect and complete) make it a desirable addition to a collection of twentieth century pressed glass.
Murano White Glass Vase of abstract organic form, 1960s
Price: £55
A white glass vase of abstract organic form with wavy edge sides and openwork panels, the edges finished in clear glass, the interior with a slightly blue finish at the bottom and the base clear glass and flat. While there is no direct comparison, very similar pieces were made by the well known Murano factory in Venice and some of them carry its name on an affixed paper label. Murano experimented with many abstract organic shapes and, as with other pieces, dating here seems to be to the mid twentieth century. This piece certainly has a feel of the 1960s and given the complexity of the design, it is remarkable that it has survived unscathed.
Cranberry Glass Vase circa 1900
Price: £30
A cranberry glass (the name obviously deriving from the colour) vase the globular almost spherical body with impressed dimple effect large roundels and rising to a slender round neck with a ‘squared’ top, the flat base densely dimpled. Cranberry or 'Gold Ruby' glass is a red glass made by adding gold salts or colloidal gold to molten glass. It was produced in relatively small quantities due to the cost of the raw materials. Known from Roman times the most famous period of production was in 19th century Britain during the Victorian Era. Many pieces from that era are known with similar ‘dimple’ effects and this is clearly what we have here. The workmanship is high quality, the richly coloured glass with many interesting glaze effects (see image 4) and skilfully modelled. Perhaps just an ornament or possibly a small table decanter but either way an attractive addition to any glass collection.
Sowerby Amber Glass Centrepiece circa 1930
Price: £75
This set comprises a standing figure of a young boy, nude and holding a kid or young goat, mounted on a round plinth with ten pierced holes, combined with a centrepiece bowl with rounded modelled walls and a crimped edge rim, the interior with a central starburst design suurounded by a stylised floral border. Both pieces are made from pressed amber glass with a matt finish and resemble very closely pieces made by the Sowerby factory in the 1930s.
The Sowerby family came from the North West of England near Carlisle and settled in Gateshead in the late eighteenth century. The firm Sowerby Glassworks is known from 1807 onwards and continued production until 1972, concentrating on pressed glass. Catalogues of their wares still exist and they produced pieces in a wide variety of styles and shapes which retain their popularity today.
The centrpiece figurine, which was intended as a flower holder or ‘frog’, is rather unusual; normally the figures are female but the style of the modelling is identical. Similar designs to the bowl can be found in a 1936 catalogue but versions of it even appear in another catalogue from 1882. Many centrepiece/bowl combinations are found and some of them are not always original. This may possibly be the case here but if so the ‘match’ is extremely pleasing to the eye and the two elements set one another off perfectly to produce a striking example of Art Deco decorative design.
Sowerby Blue Glass Footed Bowl, 1930s/1940s
Price: £25
A pressed blue glass bowl with ribbed sides and four spreading feet, made by the firm Sowerby of Gateshead. Other examples exist with their label mark attached and the style of this piece points to a manufacture date in the 1930s or 1940s. It is a clear reflection of the Art Deco designs produced at that time.
The Sowerby family came from the North West of England near Carlisle and settled in Gateshead in the late eighteenth century. The firm Sowerby Glassworks is known from 1807 onwards and continued production until 1972, concentrating on pressed glass. Catalogues of their wares still exist and they produced pieces in a wide variety of styles and shapes which retain their popularity today.
An Art Glass Vase, Aseda Glasbruk, Swedish, 1960s/1970s
Price: £75
An art glass vase of slender bottle form, the lightly flaring rim resembling a spout, the black body encased in clear glass with irregular modelled shapes often held to resemble thumbprints. This vase was made by the firm Aseda Glasbruk which was a Swedish glass factory located in Åseda, Kronoberg County. It began production in 1947 and continued through until 1975 when it was incorporated into the Royal Krona group, which unfortunately then went into liquidation in 1977. Åseda Glasbruk's chief designer was Bo Borgstrom, who graduated from Stockholm's Swedish School of Arts and Crafts in 1951. Known as an artist in ceramics Borgstrom joined the firm in 1961 and perhaps his earlier work influenced his later creations for his new employers and can be seen here in what is certainly rather a sculptural piece. The design shows the influence of other pieces produced in the 1960s and early 1970s allowing us to place the date of
manufacture at around that time. It is a fine example of clean Scandinavian elegance.
Murano Art Glass Dish, 1960s
Price: £45
An Art Glass dish made by the well known firm of Murano, based in Venice, Italy, the flowing triangular form with turned over sides indented to the centre and joining at three complementary 'lips', the blue glass skilfully combined with clear glass and shades of brown. Just possibly intended as an ashtray, the design is striking and appealing and representative of the best Murano work. A circa date in the 1960s is likely and the style matches other designs from that era.
Art Glass Doorstop with Starburst and Bubble designs, perhaps British, late C20th
Price: £45
An Art Glass Doorstop of near spherical form with a flat foot, the crystal style glass incorporating starburst effects in light maroon and blue above a purple ground, all interspersed with bubbles. Similar pieces in a slightly smaller scale are usually described as paperweights, but the size and weight of this item suggests rather a doorstop or 'dump'. High quality paperweights in a variety of rounded forms were made by various studios in Scotland in the mid to late twentieth century and perhaps this is what we have here but no firm attribution is possible. The skill of the maker, though, is self evident.
Iridescent art glass Vase with loop handles, possibly continental 1950s
Price: £45
A fine quality art glass vase, the broad pear shape body flaring to the neck which turns over to form two large loop form handles, the cream iridescent glaze skillfully combined with an iridescent green highlighting the inside of the neck and the handles. The quality of manufacture here is self evident but a provenance hard to determine. The flowing lines employed can reflect pieces form Czechoslovakia or Italy and the general finish some of the productions of the Orrefors factory in Sweden. Dating is equally problematic but the mid twentieth century seems a reasonable attribution.
Golden Amber Webb Glass Vase, marked, 1950s
Price: £45
An amber glass vase, the broad body flaring out slightly to the neck and above a wide spreading foot, decorated with bands of raised roundels and marked to the base 'Webb England'.
Thomas Webb began his glass career in 1829, when he became a partner in the Wordsley Glassworks. Various career changes followed and in 1859 he was joined by his sons Thomas Wilkes Webb and Charles Webb and began trading as Thomas Webb & Sons based in Stourbridge. The firm was run by various family members until mergers started to occur in the early twentieth century and Sven Fogelberg, previously from Swedish glassworks Kosta, became manager in 1932. Production continued with more mergers in the 1960s and 1970s until the firm closed in 1990. This vase was made by Thomas Webb during the 1950s as part of their 'Gay Glass' range in a design called 'Old English Bull's Eye' and has the typical 'Webb England' mark to the base.
A green glass paperweight, Tweedsmuir Glass, Chris Dodds, late C20th
Price: £25
A green glass paperweight, stoutly blown with a clear glass bubble above a green rock like formation with small bubbles perhaps intended to represent some form of marine surface, of round shallow form, a paper label to the base reading 'Tweedsmuir Glass' 'Handmade in Scotland' with a printed signature 'Chris Dodds'. Tweedsmuir is a village in the Scottish borders and Chris Doddds set up a factory there in 1993. Before that time he worked for Selkirk Glass and afterwards at Heron Glass in Cumbria. By 2008 he was reported to be in poor health and not working any more. He seems to have concentrated on pieces with a naturalistic style, as here. This paperweight is heavy and therefore practical; it also handles well.
It is sold with a matching contemporary illuminated stand which enhance the decorative effect considerably and provides a modest light display installation for the home (see image 6).
A set of three Millefiori Glass Paperweights, possibly Italian Murano, late C20th
Price: £75
A set of three glass paperweights of rounded dome form decorated with a multitude of closely packed flower heads in yellow and red on a dark green ground in the 'millefiori' or 'thousand flower' pattern, the all over design extending right to the base which is slightly concave with traces of the blowing technique. While similar to pieces made by the Murano Glass factory in Italy a clear provenance for these examples cannot be securely given. Dating is probably towards the end of the twentieth century but this does not diminish the decorative appeal. The decoration on each is very similar but not absolutely identical which reflects the hand blowing techniques.
This set is sold with matching contemporary illuminated stands which enhance the decorative effect considerably and provide a modest light display installation for the home (see illustrations 5 and 6).
A Pair of Glass Vases or Paperweights, probably Selkirk Glass, Scotland, 1980s/1990s
Price: £25
A pair of Glass Vases of bottle form the pear shape bodies rising to slender necks, each decorated in a complimentary design of swirling ribbons in red white and blue, the bases with a clear smooth slightly irregular circular foot. While obviously with decorative appeal the weight and form of these pieces suggest that they might also have been intended as paperweights. Similar pieces, but with slightly different decoration were made by the Selkirk Glass factory in Scotland and bear their paper label and the provenance of this pair of vases is most likely the same. The business was set up by Peter Holmes and Ron Hutchison in 1977. Peter Holmes left in 2002 and Caledonian Investments bought it in 2004 but the firm was finally closed in 2006.
Biomorphic Form Purple glass Bowl, European possibly Czech Chribska, 1970s
Price: £35
A fine quality art glass glass bowl or vase with two raised sides and a third curling downwards, all in a semi naturalistic or biomorphic form, the purple body edged with a border of clear glass and darkening slightly towards the base which is flat with a faintly bevelled edge. The general design of this piece suggests a mid 20th century date of manufacture. It is not marked but resembles pieces made by the Chribska glassworks in Czechoslovakia quite closely. The Chribska glassworks was founded in 1414 and was known as the oldest glassworks in Europe, until its closure in 2007. One of its best known designers was Josef Hospodka who produced many organic, sculptural blown glass designs, which proved very popular in the 1960s and remained in production until the factory closed in 2007.
Swedish Kosta Glass Vase designed by Vicke Lindstrand circa 1960
Price: £95
A Swedish Glass Vase of flattened ovoid form very thickly blown with a hollow interior and an interior bubble, the flat base with a slightly concave roundel to the centre etched 'Kosta LH 1616'. The Kosta Glass factory was founded in 1742 and while subject to various amalgamations and takeovers continues to make glass to this very day. Vicke Lindstrand was one of the many designers who have worked with the firm and other pieces by him with the same pattern mark 'L H 1616' are known. This piece was designed in the early 1960s and reflects the general style of pieces at that time.
Art Deco Style Bagley Glass Vase with fin type handles 1930s
Price: £45
An Art Deco style glass Vase made by Bagley Glass, of urn form, the slender ovoid body modelled with a swirling design and finished with a crimped rim, set with two fin shape handles and resting on a squared base, all finished in a mottled blue colour wave. The form clearly reflects pieces from the Art Deco period and coloured glass was not produced by the firm until the 1930s. The shape here is unusual and similar examples are hard to find. This piece was mould made, as can be seen from the base, but probably also finished by hand in common with many other pieces from the firm. Dating has to be assumed. Bagley pieces are not marked and popular designs were sometimes continued long after their introduction.
Daum Crystal Glass Swallowtail Bowl, signed Daum-France circa 1960
Price: £150
A fine quality crystal glass bowl manufactured by Daum in the 'Swallowtail' form with a typical elongated design rising at each end from a narrow hollowed out base and terminating in a stylised beak at one end and a stylised double edged tail at the other, the abstract form intending to represent the bird.
Vases in this form were produced by the well known French maker Daum in the 1950s and the 1960s. The sizes and designs can vary with some examples measuring up to two feet and intended as table ornaments. This piece is rather smaller and perhaps more elegant. The crystal glass is of extremely high quality and reflects the light in a very attractive way. The weight is good and the glass itself is thickly blown and expertly formed, The flat base shows signs of bevelled edging at the exterior and one of the sides bears the typical etched Daum mark with 'Daum' and 'France' separated by a device comprising an upright line with two crosses.
The more petite size and the quality of the manufacture and design make this a most appealing example of Daum's work at its best. Dating can be assumed to be around 1960 if not slightly before. A desirable piece indeed for collectors of twentieth century art glass.
Pukeberg Glass Horse Head with label, 1970s
Price: £55
A heavily modelled glass head of a horse with a raised mane, the abstract form enhanced by an ‘ice glass’ effect whereby the clear glass was given a textured effect in order to represent a block of ice from which the figure was formed. As the label indicates, this was a product of the well known Pukeberg Glass works in Sweden, founded in 1871 by C.W. Nystrom, who had previously worked at Kosta. The factory started to manufacture decorative glass in the 1930s and still continues production today. This piece dates to the 1970s and was designed by Stig A. Karrstrand. It is a fine example of modernist Scandinavian design and retains its maker’s label which is quite unusual. The weight suggests a paperweight form and other naturalistic pieces were produced at the same time to provide the same function but this example can be enjoyed just for its own decorative appeal.
Two Amelia Art Glass Vases, Apple and Pear
Price: £30
Two art glass vases, one in the form of an apple and one in the form of a pear, both with delicate glass stems and black patterning to the white bodies. These are part of the ‘Amelia Art Glass’ range and are both hand blown. Perhaps intended a paperweights they have an obvious decorative appeal suitable for the contemporary interior. It is remarkable that they have both survived intact!
Pair of Glass Candlesticks, Davidson Chippendale, 1930s
Price: £25
A pair of glass candlesticks modelled in a distinctive art deco style with a hexagonal central shaft topped with a nozzle, with angular trophy form handles to the sides and wide flaring bases. This pair comes from the ‘Chippendale’ range produced by the glass manufacturer Davidson in the late 1930s. George Davidson founded the Teams Flint Glass Works in 1867, which later became known as George Davidson & Co. In the 1880s the company began producing pressed glass tableware in a variety of shapes and by the 1920s their designs began to reflect the new Art Deco trends. The firm continued production until the 1980s, closing in 1987.
Chippendale glass was designed and patented in the USA in the early years of the 20th Century and imported into Britain. The moulds were purchased by a Charles Pratt and Davidson’s used them to produce this range of glassware purchasing the exclusive rights to manufacture Chippendale glass when they realised its popularity. Various forms were included in the range and manufactured by the pressed glass technique for which the firm had become famous. The mould marks of this pair can be clearly seen at the bases (see image 4). The clean angular lines are typical of art deco designs and Davidson’s produced here a model which was both practical and decorative.
Art Deco Davidson purple cloud glass bowl, stand and frog, 1930s
Price: £75
This is a sunning flower display set, comprising a bowl, stand and ‘frog’ (or flower holder) made by George Davidson & Co in purple 'Cloud Glass'. This type of glass work was unique to the firm which was founded by George Davidson as the Teams Flint Glass Works in 1867, later becoming known as George Davidson & Co. In the 1880s the company began producing pressed glass tableware in a variety of shapes and by the 1920s their designs began to reflect the new Art Deco trends. From 1923, Davidson began producing their hugely successful ‘Cloud Glass’ range, created by applying streaks of dark coloured glass to paler glass, creating a random swirled, ‘clouded’ pattern of which this piece is an excellent example. The firm continued production until the 1980s, closing in 1987.
This model can be seen in the firm's catalogue for 1931 where the bowl and stand are combined with a separate pierced flower holder in the same style. No doubt the size of the ‘frog’ was up to the purchaser who could choose from a range of dimensions which probably explains the slightly different proportions here to the catalogue image which otherwise illustrates our example extremely well, even down to the milled edging to the rim of the bowl. With its archetypal shape and colouring this piece would be an excellent addition to any Art Deco collection as well as providing a striking and decorative item for a contemporary interior.
Vintage Cobalt Blue Glass Perfume Bottle and Stopper, 1930s
Price: £25
A blue glass small bottle and stopper in deep cobalt blue of squared and rounded pyramid form with a stepped concave neck. The shape suggests a perfume bottle and similar examples do exist including one with a gilt Chloé mark which would mean a post 1952 date of manufacture. The technique here, though, resembles the ‘pressed glass’ pieces made in England during the 1930s, for example by the firm Davidson, suggesting a more likely dating to that period. The slightly Art Deco feel to the form fits in with this. While it has slight damage, it is, of course, more unusual to find this shape with its original stopper.
Art Deco Flower Vase, Frog and Stand, Bagley Glass, Spinette Range, 1930s
Price: £45
A flower vase and stand of angular form, the green glass diamond shape body with a spreading foot and fitted with a matching black glass stand below, the interior of the vase with a removable display stand or 'frog' with diamond shape apertures for the presentation of flowers and the body of the vase with pressed glass decoration of stylised fans. The form of this piece appears in the catalogues of the Bagley glass factory in the 'Spinette Range' and with the model number 3180 allowing a secure dating to the 1930s which is fully consistent with the Art Deco inspired design of the piece.
Bagley Glass was established in Knottingly, England (south east of Leeds) in 1871. Bottle makers at first they branched out in 1912 and opened a department 'The Crystal Glass company' which made crystal and pressed glass. But it was for the latter that Bagley were to become famous and they became the biggest manufacturer of pressed glass in England in the years before and after the war. Many of their designs were influenced by the Art Nouveau styles and this flower vase, unusually presented complete with its frog and stand, is a classic example of their range.
Davidson Green Cloud Glass Vase, 1930s
Price: £55
A green glass vase with a bulbous ovoid body below a concave stepped neck widely flaring at the rim, the surface with a swirling design known as the 'cloud' pattern. While not marked, this vase can be firmly attributed to the Davidson glass works, well known glass manufacturers in England in the late C19th and C20th
George Davidson founded the Teams Flint Glass Works in 1867, which later became known as George Davidson & Co. In the 1880s the company began producing pressed glass tableware in a variety of shapes and by the 1920s their designs began to reflect the new Art Deco trends. The firm continued production until the 1980s, closing in 1987. This vase is typical of their Art Deco inspired designs although is rather less commonly found today. It has the pattern number '34 'SVF', 'S' standing for 'small', 'V' for 'vase' and 'F' for 'flared rim' and was produced from 1934 to 1942 (see www.cloudglass.com). A slightly larger version was made as well with the pattern number '34' 'VF'. The swirling effect was typical of Davidson's 'cloud glass' designs, one of its most popular ranges. In mint condition, this vase might well fill a gap in a collection of Davidson pieces or pre war British glass generally.
Green and Blue Glass Bowl, Chřibská Czechoslovakia, late C20th
Price: £40
A heavy glass sculptural bowl with extended edges and concave sides on a narrowing modelled ovoid foot in colourings of green and blue encased in clear glass, all artistically blended. The 'chunky' design and the treatment of colour point towards pieces made by the Chřibská glassworks in Czechoslovakia. Founded in 1414, in the town of Chřibská, which was originally part of Bohemia and became part of Czechoslovakia in 1919, the factory became known as the oldest glassworks in Europe, until its closure in 2007. With the advent of communism in the 1950s, the firm became part of the Borske Sklo National Corporation and around the same time Josef Hospodka began to work there becoming head designer from 1958-1970 and returning as a designer in 1985 until his death in 1989. While there are various Chřibská catalogues, the pieces are not assigned to a particular designer, although some of them, including Hospodka himself, are mentioned in the contemporary Czech Glass Revue which allows tentative attribution and, known for his blown glass designs, Hospodka may well have been responsible for the piece we have here. It has the pattern number 296/5/30 and can be seen, in a different colour wave, in one of the Chřibská catalogues.
Murano blue glass star shape Bowl, 1960s
Price: £25
A small deep bowl of shaped square form with pointed edges and incurving sides, the blue glass combined with clear glass in a technique known as ‘sommerso’ (Italian ‘submerged’) whereby two or more layers of contrasting glass are created without the colours mixing together. Sommerso pieces are formed by dipping coloured glass into molten glass of a different colour before blowing the glass into the required form and the technique was developed by the Murano factory in Venice. The colour range here is typical of their work and other pieces can be found with similar and even identical designs. Dating is probably to the 1960s and the flowing organic form is charcteristic of pieces from that time.
Black and Gold Copper Glitter Art Glass Scent Bottle, probably Murano late C20th
Price: £55
This is a very stylish scent bottle and stopper with a bulbous body, a concave neck with a flat top rim and a fitted stopper with a ball and pointed top and a long interior seal, the black glass with gilt flecks made from copper in globular and swirling patterns. Almost all the pieces with similar form and decoration are attributed to the Murano glassworks in Venice although none seem to exist with labels which would authenticate this. But the high quality of the glass blowing certainly suggests Murano work and the attribution seems reasonable. This example is particularly pleasing and is in excellent condition with the stopper original and intact.
Caithness Glass Perfume Bottle and Stopper, late C20th
Price: £30
A perfume bottle and stopper, the broad pear shape body with a flaring neck and fitted with a ball shape stopper, the glass blown with swirling flecking effects in apricot and white and the stopper plain. The pattern and design of this perfume bottle is typical of pieces made by the Caithness glass factory in Scotland and similar pieces can be found with their label attached. The Caithness glass factory was established in 1961 at Wick, Caithness by Robin Sinclair, 2nd Viscount Thurso and soon taken over by George Mackie, Baron Mackie of Benshie in 1966 who remained its Chairman for twenty years. Set up to provide additional employment in the area, the company also was intended to exploit the availablity of sand for glassmaking in Caithness, although this did not prove suitable for the manufacture of clear glass. Paperweights became a speciality and the firm received a Royal Warrant from the Queen Mother in 1968. Twice driven into receivership in the early years of this century, it was eventually bought by Dartington Crystal in 2006 and continues the manufacture of paperweights today.
Perfume Bottle and Stopper, Island Studio, Guernsey, late C20th
Price: £30
A perfume bottle and stopper, the globular almost spherical body with short collar fitted with a rounded stopper, the glass blown with purple and white flecking effects merging into a swirling design at the top which continues to the stopper. Similar pieces can be found with the label 'Island Glass, Guernsey', and one of these also has the moulded mark on the bottom which appears here and may represent trees and waves. Island Glass was a glass studio based in Guernsey which seems to have had a very short existence in the late C20th. It is believed that one of the employees there was Chris Dodds who was later to set up his own studio in Selkirk, Scotland. Little is known of this firm but they were clearly capable of making pieces of high quality and appeal.
Pink and Orange Glass Bowl, Chřibská Czechoslovakia, late C20th
Price: £40
A heavy glass sculptural bowl of rounded triangular form with three outward facing spouts between three inward facing lips on a narrowing irregularly shaped foot in colourings of pink and orange encased in clear glass, all artistically blended. The 'chunky' design and the treatment of colour point towards pieces made by the Chřibská glassworks in Czechoslovakia. Founded in 1414, in the town of Chřibská, which was originally part of Bohemia and became part of Czechoslovakia in 1919, the factory became known as the oldest glassworks in Europe, until its closure in 2007. With the advent of communism in the 1950s, the firm became part of the Borske Sklo National Corporation and around the same time Josef Hospodka began to work there becoming head designer from 1958-1970 and returning as a designer in 1985 until his death in 1989. While there are various Chřibská catalogues, the pieces are not assigned to a particular designer, although some of them, including Hospodka himself, are mentioned in the contemporary Czech Glass Revue which allows tentative attribution and, known for his blown glass designs, Hospodka may well have been responsible for the piece we have here, which can be seen in a different colour wave with the number 127/5/14 in one of the Chribska catalogues.
Four Art Deco style small Glass Vases with silver decoration, possibly Murano 1930s
Price: £55
Four Art Deco style small Glass Vases with silver overlay decoration, possibly Murano 1930s
This is a set of four complementary small coloured glass vases (green, blue, amethyst, turquoise) each with applied silver decoration now slightly tarnished. The clean lines of the shapes, two of baluster form and two with conical bodies suggest the Art Deco era and the decoration, which features gondolas and palaces, suggests Venetian origin and therefore manufacture at the Murano glassworks there. This has to remain slightly speculative and the pieces might be slightly later but the group provides a highly decorative ensemble for collectors or decorators alike.
Pair of slender green glass Vases with silver decoration, possibly French early C20th
Price: £45
A pair of light green glass vases of slender form with near cylindrical bodies and a flaring neck above an ovoid globular base with a spreading foot, each decorated in silver inlay with flowers (chrysanthemum) and geometric designs. In contrast to the previous lot, the shape here suggests the designs of the Art Nouveau era and the decoration certainly has a French feel to it which would be consistent with this. The elegance of this pair of vases is striking, probably an ornament for a mantel piece at the time and more than suitable for a mantelpiece of today.
Opaline Art Glass Vase with a marbled design, Vetreria Barbieri, 1970s/1980s
Price: £45
An art glass vase of mallet form with a narrow flaring neck, the opaline glass body with a marbled design in shades of yellow and brown. Many pieces in this style are found with paper labels reading 'V.B. Opaline Florence, Made in Italy'. The initials VB are thought to stand for Vetreria Barbieri, a factory in or close to the town of Empoli, Italy, that produced glassware during the 1970's and early 1980's. 'Opaline Florence" refers to the type of glass used, since opaline glass, a cloudy white, was produced in Florence. The parallels we have therefore allow us to provide an identification here and very similar attributable examples are known.
Mdina Art Glass vase, signed, 1979
Price: £95
A heavy art glass vase with a squared ovoid body below a narrow, slightly sloping neck with a small inturned rim, decorated overall in a richly multicoloured marble effect pattern and signed at the base 'Mdina' '1979'. Mdina Glass was founded in the Maltese town of Mdina in 1968 by Michael Harris and Eric Dobson. The town had no history of glass making but the venture proved to be a success. Its wares, free formed organic glassware, often in colours inspired from the sea, sand, earth and sky, proved very popular with tourists visiting Malta. Michael Harris left Mdina in 1972 and formed a new company, Isle of Wight Studio Glass, on the Isle of Wight, UK, leaving Eric Dobson in charge, but many of the designs he created continued to be made at Mdina Glass after his departure although new designs and patterns were added as well. Ownership of the company later changed but it is still producing a popular range of glasswares today. Although dated 1979 this vase could well have been an original Harris design and is an excellent example of early Mdina work with a striking range of colours set off by the bold organic form.
Amber Glass Bowl and stand, Stölzle Hermanova Hut factory, Czech 1930s
Price: £55
An Art Deco style amber glass bowl and stand, both with alternating segments of clear and patterned glass, the bowl with a flaring rim and the stand concave to match. This model can be seen in the pattern books of the Stölzle ' Hermanova Hut' factory situated in what is now Czechoslovakia. In 1805, Carl Stölzle founded two glass factories in Austria and by 1867 owned a further six in Austria, Bohemia and Hungary, the Heřmanova Hut' factory being founded in 1907. Many of the art deco style glasswares produced by the firm were made there and this bowl and stand, a matching combination not often found, typifies the styles of the era both in form and colour.
Blue and Green Ice Glass Square Bowl, possibly Pukeberg, late C20th
Price: £45
A heavily modelled glass bowl of rounded square form with raised corners and indented concave sides with a textured base underneath, the clear glass blended with green and blue glass, each of the colours covering half the surface of the interior with a diagonal 'join'. The weight and textured finish to this piece is clearly intended to represent ice and 'ice glass' pieces were made by various Scandinavian manufacturers, notably Pukeberg of Sweden who produced many 'ice glass' pieces in a 'modernist' style in the 1970s although these seem to be just in clear glass. A very similar bowl was made in the 1970s by Ittala, a glass studio in Finland, and this has colouration similar to the bowl here, but Ittala pieces tend to be signed with the factory name, and often that of their designer Tapio Wirkalla, whereas there is no discernible signature here. 'Scandinavian 1970s' is perhaps the safest bet then but this does not detract from the appeal of a bold statement item which has the potential to be functional as well.
Two Wedgwood Glass paperweights designed by Ronald Stennett-Wilson, late C20th
Price: £40
These are two Wedgwood Glass paperweights both of rounded conical form, one clear glass with small bubbles and one clear glass with speckled green large bubbles, a design understandably known as ‘topiary’. Both have acid etched marks to the base which can be read ‘Wedgwood’ ‘England’ although the mark on the first is off centre and indistinct (see image 5); this is compensated for by the attached paper label which also reads ‘Wedgwood’ ‘England’. Both were designed by Ronald Stennett-Wilson, one of the most prominent UK glass designers, who set up the firm King’s Lynn Glass in 1967. Before that he had worked for Swedish glass manufacturers and the influence of their styles can be seen in his own work. The clear glass example could be felt to recall Kosta Boda. King’s Lynn Glass was taken over by Wedgwood in 1969 and their name marked on its production thereafter, although there was apparently a slight delay in the delivery of the machine which was used to apply the marks, meaning that the very first ‘Wedgwood’ pieces are hard to identify. Stenett-Wilson remained as Managing Director and chief designer for Wedgwood’s newly acquired firm until his retirement in 1980. Many of the staff at King’s Lynn Glass when it started had worked in Sweden or Europe and they began to train local workers who followed, no doubt, the styles and techniques of their teachers. After Stennett-Wilson’s retirement, the firm was subject to various acquisitions and mergers, finally being sold to Caithness Glass in 1988 with the factory closing in 1992. These two pieces, then, are an excellent example of the Swedish inspired designs made by Wedgwood Glass in its early years. Both decorative and practical they can appeal to a specialist or non specialist alike.
Viartec Murano Style Selenium Red & Orange Glass Sculptural Dish, Spanish 1950s/1960s
Price: £45
A sculptural dish or bowl of undulating form, the surface twisted at each end to form two ‘fish tails’, the red glass encased in orange glass and the whole in imitation of Murano glass designs. While Venetian in style, research has proved that this piece and others like it, matching in either colours or form or both, were made by the Spanish factory Viartec and sometimes pieces can be found with an original Viartec label reading ‘Viartec Hand Made in Spain’. The red glass used here is called selenium glass and reacts, when lit by UV light, to display a bright orange or pink colour. A similar type of colour change effect is, of course, displayed by the more commonly found green uranium glass. The form suggests dating to the 1950s or 1960s and it is said that many of these pieces were brought back to the UK as souvenirs by visiting tourists which explains why they can be found here today.
