Posted 13 years ago
cogito
(124 items)
Beautiful and relatively rare enamel and “Zypernglaser” art glass vase designed by Max Rade in symbolist style and executed by Glasfabrik Fritz Heckert (Petersdorf, Germany; circa 1898). Rade’s enamel work features an interesting mix of Egyptian and traditional Art Nouveau floral motifs that is rife with symbolism. The vase has a polished pontil and fired rim. Dimensions: 5.25”(H) x 3.25”(W).
Though unsigned, this vase is decidedly a Max Rade designed Heckert piece, as it is illustrated in the Passau Glass Museum catalog; though in a different base colored glass (see Das Bohmische Glas, Band V, pg. 63, fig. V.84). PM notes associated with that vase example indicate that this sphinx/poppy motif is production #495/10. Josephinehutte reportedly made the “Zypernglaser” for Fritz Heckert and supplied it from 1881-1910.
Max Rade (1840 - 1917), a well-known professor at the Art Academy in Dresden, provided designs for Glasfabrik Fritz Heckert from 1898 to 1900. This vase is an example of his earliest work for the company and reflects a series of vases all with mixed mythological and traditional Art Nouveau / Jugendstil motifs.
Nice example!
Thanks. What's interesting is the text from the PM catalog, which indicates that these vases were mold blown. But, if this was the case, then why the polished pontil and fired rim?
A lot of fine glass, including Loetz was mold blown in the initial steps of production. That really has no bearing on whether it will have a fired rim and pontil. It was a way of keeping production shapes/heights/width stable on a daily basis.
So, what was the purpose of the pontil on the mold blown vases? I've seen mold blown without pontils on cheaper pieces. Was the pontil only necessary to fire the rim on vases like mine above where additional glass or material application is not necessary to the decor?
I have some old production diagrams I will send you when I get a chance. Theres too much to describe here.
Cool. Thanks, Tony.
Beautiful vase and very informative description its history and makers. Thanks for sharing it with us. BTW, if you have Cantz's book on Loetz pg 346 & 347 includes a pictoral description showing how Loetz made blew & decorated a PG 691/PN 691.
Boy, that's a sore subject with me. I've been looking for a copy of Cantz for months! Impossible to find these days without paying $500...which is insane.
Fabulous vase!
I'm looking for links: Sphinx (Phix) and poppies?
Is it an emblem of Thebes?
The Centaur and a red lily?
Diana (Artemis) and Blueten?
And about the "Cantz" .... I agree totally.
You forgot the Pearl of Wisdom under the Sphinx paw. Additionally, the neck is decorated with a stylized version of the Eye of Horus. It's clear that Rade knew his mythology, probably a byproduct his experiencing the Egyptian Revival period.
Your vase blank is done in 'Bronzecypern' (blue) This decoration was also offered on the same shaped glass blank in 'Goldcypern' (a light green).
Heckert's catalog number for each piece is:
Bronzecyperm: F.H. 495/10 II MR I
Goldcyperm: F.H. 495/10 II MR II
To provide some historical background, the glass blank (German - Glasform) was designed by then Heckert Kunstglas Industrie manager and son-in-law of Heckert's 2nd wife's 1st marriage (ooPetersdorf 28 April 1891 w/Frieda Emilie Bruns), Otto (Ernst Traugott) Thamm, who designed a great number of glass blanks (more than 200), and some decorations. It was Thamm who, in 1898 persuaded Prof. Max Rade of Dresden to design for Heckert (who also designed for Josephinenhütte). It was the now famous Heckert designer Prof. Ludwig Sütterlin, from Berlin, who filled the great void left by Prof. Rade when he left Heckert's employ (and presumably went back to Desden, where he died in 1916). Thamm took over the entire Heckert operations in 1900 after Heckert's 2nd wife, Sophie Emilie née Wesche passed away. Emilie took over the operations after Fritz (Friedrich 'Fritz' Wilhelm) passed away in 1887. Heckert's 1st son from his 2nd marriage, Bruno (August Louis) took the operations over in 1906.
The relationship between Heckert and Josephinenhütte (who was situated in a neighboring village) was very close. Heckert's venture into art glass is largely due to Heckert's friend, and director of Josephinenhütte, Franz Pohl Sr.'s tutelage of Fritz Heckert, who had previously produced wall hung mirrors, mirrors supplied with furniture, chandeliers, glass buttons. and other items, in Berlin.
'Cypern' glass, otherwise known as irisierendes Glas (iridescent glass) stems from Roman glass that was excavated after having been buried in the ground for some 2,000 years, and is the result of a chemical reaction between the metal oxides in the ground, and the glass.
The development of the then (19th century) modern glass (as opposed to 2,000 year old Roman glass) was a coincidental discovery made by chemist Leo Pantocek in 1856 in Slovakia. The technique of making iridescent glass (through the introduction of metal oxides to the molten glass mass) was adopted by many glasshouses, including Riedel of Poulan (in 1875), and Josephinenhütte (in 1887, and claimed it as their specialty), amongst others, it was Otto Tham, who in 1895 introduced this type of glass into Heckert's production.
Sorry for the length, but I felt it important to illustrate the relationship between Prof. Rade and Otto Tham, and 'Cypern' Glass. This, of course, is a very abbreviated history of the Fritz Heckert Kunstglas Industrie's rich history. There is Hope you enjoyed it.
All of the information provided above can be found in Stefania Zelasko's book, 'Fritz Heckert Kunstglas Industrie 1866-1923,' published in 2012. She also authored both of the books on Josephinenhütte. I could not access the Bohemian glass set of books that you referenced, as my set is currently in storage, and difficult to get to.
A breakdown of Heckert's catalog numbers, including those provided above, can be provided for anyone that's interested.
Incidentally, neither the Heckert, nor the Josephinenhütte factories were ever located in Bohemia, although Petersdorf was close to Bohemia. Petersdorf was in the former German Land (similar to a State) of Schlesien (English: Silesia), part of which was absorbed by the German Land of Sachsen (Saxony), and the other part was repatriated to Poland after WWII ended (including Petersdorf, and the surrounding area).
My bad, the catalog number does not include 'F.H.' which is typically marked on Heckert's glass to denote the maker, Fritz Heckert, and typically appears before the catalog number. I do have pieces within my collection that are simply marked 'F.H.', or 'FH'.
Wonderful information, Historismus! My piece is in Goldcypern, while the other book example in the photographs above is in Bronzecypern, based upon your description.
Isnt it very nice Cogito that someone has give out information , unwillingly and unconditionally? and helping!! very nice of you Historismus!!
My pleasure! I enjoy doing/providing the research. I end up learning something myself most of the time. I help a lot of people on ebay with their listings. There is so much incorrect information there, and in other places (especially on dealer and auction sites), as few bother to do the research, and end up adopting the wrong information from other places. Some appreciate my help, some don't. One of these days, a dealer/seller is going to get sued for fraud/misrepresentation, and that will set the collecting world on its ear. Now, if only I could get paid for it (it would help to offset the hundreds of books in my library)! lol