Loetz Candia Martelé, PN II-156, ca. 1900

Martelé is a word derived from the French verb 'marteler', meaning "to hammer". Normally, a hammer is the last thing you want to think of when talking about glass, but the surface texture is meant to mimic hammered metal. This texture is particularly effective on iridescent Candia, where the light bounces off the walls of the indentations, enhancing the iridescence and furthering the illusion of hammered metal. One could imagine that the spittoon-like appearance of PN I-8033 (1899) must have inspired the designers at Loetz when they decided to update the form for Series II (PN II-156), to include Candia Martelé among the decors. The iridescent applied handles add visual interest - This is a great Loetz shape, and though Candia is a colorless ground, the iridescent finish gives this piece a beautiful antique platinum color that I really love. Other glass makers of the time (Kralik, Rinsdkopf, etc) did this type of glass, but this Loetz version stands out, in my opinion.

Photos used with permission of the seller, ebay's 'baby.dragon' - Thanks, Kerrie!