Posted 7 years ago
sklo42
(900 items)
I was surprised to find a pink version of this jug, but even more surprised that some of them came with a lid. I've had the clear one for years, but I bought the pink one only recently and simply because of the lid. Both have very neat polished pontils.
The clear one with the hollow handle is Loetz but is the pink one Kralik or Loetz or neither?
The pink one remains unknown........
Height 23cm./9 inches
I think that the clear one is Palda or Krosno but not sure about the original design or other attributions. It is a keeper and a very functional design.
I've seen this pink one attributed to Kralik Peggy - but you would need Jericho, Craig or others to confirm. Amazing to see with it's top, they don't normally survive the rigors of time! It's not really as elegant as the classic Koloman Moser one though.
I haven't seen these before Peggy. It's a great shape.
The first photo reminds me of Andy Capp lol.
As far as i know there are only two makers of these so far.... Ludvika Smrckova for Antonin Ruckl, and Loetz. I'm a bit behind the times in the glass world though.
Ian, I think this link nails the clear one,
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/77334-loetz-crackle-jugs-formerly-known-as-kolo-moser-jugs
I'm sure it's Czech/Bohemian and had its very popular role.The jugs were used commonly to buy draught beer.I saw as recently as in 70s children running to the shops to buy a jug of beer for their fathhers to drink at home in the evening.
Phil, at the time of the above link I think both were being attributed to Loetz, though by a former CW member whose posts are gone. I too have seen the shape of this pink one attributed to Kralik, though not by a reliable source......yet!
Karen, like you and Phil I too find the 'pink' shape altogether less elegant, but like it because it does have its lid.......something I'd never seen before. I wonder whether this is a case of a maker producing their version of another's very popular line!
Tigerchips, that's a first......I've never previously come across Ruckl being connected to either shape.
Ivonne, tell me, do you mean jugs of one or both of these specific shapes. Or do you mean jugs in general?
They are both solid, thick walled and I do use the clear one. The pink one is a recent purchase, but I'll probably use that too. Also it contains considerably more water than the clear one.
These two are rather sophisticated as art glass in comparison to everyday jugs - 1l and more ,solid and comfortable but there is no reason they can't be used for beer.
Especially the lid made me think about their usage and opened a window in my memory : I recalled a scene of the afternoon in a Prague settlement,a crowded shop and boys taking beer in jugs,lidded or not :)
Collecting beer in your own container, from a shop called an 'off licence', existed in England too, during my childhood.
Here's a link to the Loetz jug in pink,
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/58550-loetz-crackle-jug
It was a nice custom in "beer countries",wasn't it?
It was Ivonne, and economically and ecologically good too!
Here is a link to an amber crackle jug posted by Justanovice four years ago. It shows what was thought then.
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/97855-is-this-my-first-loetz?-in=user
That said I have now found further comments saying that these were reproduced later, but without actual proof.......
Not to confuse the issue, but these pitchers have had attributions which run the gamut. There are examples like the clear known to be by Loetz, among several other companies. These include a range of old to new, with knowledge of a Scandinavian company also producing them in much more contemporary times. The name of that company escapes me at the moment, but I may have the documentation somewhere.
Honestly, without good documentation, I do not even think it is possible to call this pink version Kralik, as there is really nothing to support the idea. The hollow handled version were referred to as Koloman Moser for Loetz for the longest time, but that has been discredited in more recent times. It is also questioned whether the design was by Marie Kirschner for Loetz, but there is not really anything to support that either.
The solid handled versions like the pink one were attributed to Kralik at one point by a now absent CW member, but there was nothing ever presented in the way of supporting evidence that I am aware of. Unfortunately most of these are found in translucent or opaque colors without any unique or recognizable decors, which makes attributing these more guesswork than anything else. That fact is exacerbated by the number of companies that are suspected to have copied the very popular, and practical, designs.
Personally, I am of the opinion that most of these pitchers are near impossible to accurately attribute.
Thanks for the information, Craig.
Thank you all for the loves and comments.
This is quite an old post and all of the links are broken but it's most certainly talking about this jug.... http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,4919.0.html
wonderful posting Peggy missed it some how !!!!
tigerchips Thank you for posting the link. I couldn't access the pictures unfortunately but read it all. Would I be able to see the pictures if I signed in?
In the meantime, am I correct to think that the conclusion was that my pink jug was made by Ruckl?
Thank you, MALKEY......happens to us all :)
The pics are long gone. With the jug being so close in design to each other i wouldn't like to say for sure who's it might be, and there is also a possibility of a third manufacture. I'm not an expert on glass at all, i joined the GMB years ago and it helped me increase my knowledge on glass, it's a really good place to learn about all kinds of glass. I'm sure they would be happy to see a lidded example. The owner of that original post, Marcus Newhall, went on to write a book called SKLO Union: Art Before Industry: 20th Century Czech Pressed Glass. In fact i think one or two of my photo's are in that book, been that long i can't remember. One day i will get around to buying it.
Thank you tigerchips. In line with what welzebub and you have said, I've added that this jug remains unattributed. I have that book and found it invaluable when I was collecting Sklo Union glass. Incidentally I'm also a member/ of glass messages but tend to use it less.
Thank you for the loves and the sharing of knowledge.