SIT DOWN AND LET ME GIVE YOU SOME OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THIS ART GLASS
I have been handed this glass vase by my wife, the collector of all things beautiful (including me!)
My wife obtained this vase while travelling some 50 odd years ago but cannot pinpoint just where she got it (age does that to you!)
I am sure you will agree, the immediate reaction upon viewing this vase is simply WOW! Such vibrant, alive colours.
We are a family who appreciate the imagination, creativity and skills of artists across a wide range of mediums and although we have not normally collected very many art glass pieces, this vase is quite something.
When I was handed this vase, I took a close interest in just how the craftsperson had made it ... Oh and my wife told me that this is definitely NOT Murano glass per-say although the special glass overlay technique which uses Opaline White glass for the layer INSIDE the outer layer was a technique also extensively used by Murano glass artists.
The reference I have made to this art glass being produced using the overlay technique is because there are effectively TWO layers to the glass ... the outer layer of coloured glass, in this case a Turquoise Blue and within this layer is the White Opaline glass. This gives a very soft appearance to the glass, making the colouring shift towards a pale shade of the outer glass layer. The main body of the vase is often referred to as the colour "Robin's Egg".
Two flowers use the same technique, using a Yellow toned glass with White Opaline glass inside for the uppermost flower and an Orange-Red glass with White Opaline glass for the lower flower. Both of these flowers look to have been impressed into a ribbon of Emerald Green glass while it was still hot. I certainly cannot see any signs of "glues" being used to hold the pieces together.
Although I cannot see (or feel) a distinct pontil mark on the underside nor can I see any evidence of seams.
I believe this vase has been handmade but in separate stages which were then all bought together to form the completed vase. Nowhere can I find any maker's markings or marks that may indicate who made this vase.
The heavy glass of the base does look very much like pressed glass to me but I cannot see any seams. Actually, at first thought I felt this base was a bit "boring" compared to the creativity of the piece but I then discovered this base actually uses light in interesting ways.
You see, light from above goes down through the Blue glass of the main vase body and then this Blueish light is visible from the base when viewed side on, giving an interesting Blue hue to the base glass.
While talking about the light effects, I saw online that this vase MAY have fluorescent properties (it comes alive when bathed in UV light) so I dragged out my UV strip light and took a look when it got dark outside. Bathed in UV light (from the side) there does appear to be reaction by the glass, particularly the Yellow flower and to a lesser extent, the Orange-Red flower. After a bit of research, it appears that Cadmium may be present in the glass, causing this reaction. The main body though has very little reaction to the UV light.
Take a look at the last photographs to see the effects of the side bathing in UV light.
Some folk might find this UV response useful for their creative display of the vase, I guess.
Phew! that went on a bit longer than I intended but I hope the above information gives the viewer an idea of what they are looking at ... I noticed so many folk advertise similar items and just say "Art Glass" without any nitty gritty details.
ART GLASS VASE
Country of origin is unknown
Glass Decorative Technique: Overlay (Coloured glass with a White Opaline layer)
Stands 7.5" or 190mm
Base diameter is almost 3" or 74mm x 15mm thick (nice, heavy and stable base)
Yes, it does actually hold a small bouquet of flowers, although only a small bunch.
Weight: 650g
COSMETIC CONDITION:
I have examined this vase extremely carefully (glass can be 'tricky')
Clean
NO discolouration or scratches to any of the glass artwork
NO chips, particularly around those topside 'petals'
The base is clean (clear glass) but I DID notice something ...
Being glass, I had to hold the vase at a 'certain angle' but once I did, I can see a CRACK (or at least it appears to be) within the clear glass base.
This crack is visible INSIDE the glass but not from the underside or top down and I cannot feel it with my finger ... like a bubble but it appears like a crack.
This peculiar 'crack' in no way affects the integrity of the vase or visual attractiveness because it is difficult to see and only from certain angles.
