Posted 5 years ago
Lichnowsky
(26 items)
Wonderful piece! But but just a bit baffling due to the signature.. .
Well, I have known it from the very beginning: this signature is a forgery. Signed Loetz pieces are infrequent. Furthermore, it's easy enough to recognize an authentic signature if you have read a little about the subject. As an expert confirmed this vase to be a genunine Loetz's in spite of its fake signature, I bought it.
I wonder both if one retailer (or importer) stamped the signature to give the vase more credibility (!), and when that happened.
I had not heard of such cases (false signatures on authentic works) yet.
This vase is a Silberiris or Goldiris Crete vase (the seller was not sure). In my opinion it is more likely Silberiris, by comparison with a Goldiris vase that I will show next. Melon form, ribbed, with strong iridescent finish. Circa 1910. The height is 11,5 cm. Polished smooth pontil on the base with what appears to be an acid stamped "Loetz Austria" signature.
Sadly, false signatures on pieces that are authentic are not all that uncommon. It is simply an indication that an ethically challenged seller did not know enough about the item they were selling to identify it accurately, and added a signature to a piece of glass to enhance it's perceived value.
Yes, I also find that practice sad, though I thought it occurred only seldom.
Instead, not few sellers offer items misdescribed, out of ignorance or attempting to deceive
:-(
Just saw one a few days ago. On a popular auction site. Fake signature on an actual Loetz vase, that is.... Love Goldiris.
Thanks for commenting Sammyz! So, not seldom. I didn't know.