Posted 9 months ago
IronLace
(930 items)
Here's a cool piece of Bohemian Art Nouveau glass that arrived today. Purchased from an online antiques store within Australia, it was very cheap due to a minor (& I mean minor) chip to the top rim. I'd previously bought another Art Nouveau vase from them last year, with a similar story - so I check back on their new arrivals section regularly now, as it seems there are good deals to be found.
The vase is made from a single layer of light amber glass with an intense iridescent finish. The iridescence is further heightened by the moulded pattern, which has a labyrinth - like texture.
It measures 18.5 cm tall, 4.9 cm across the top rim & 5 cm across the base.
It has a simple double gourd form, & the glass is a little thicker than it appears, so it has a nice weight even though it's not a big vase.
Bohemian origin, circa 1900.
very nice
https://www.etsy.com/es/listing/1515528424/fabrica-de-vidrio-elisabeth-pallme-konig?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=kralik+glass+vase&ref=sr_gallery-1-27&sts=1&content_source=8067d14e670f39557ceb83e12a2c25ce90a6434f%253A1515528424&organic_search_click=1
I am surprised that the Etsy seller should list her vase as by Pallme Konig. It is usually regarded to be, Honeycomb Panel by Kralik.
Lovely vase, Marin, and a much rarer décor than Martelé or Honeycomb Panel. Though all three do appear in this lovely shade of green with iridescence.
Oddly the Brain Maze décor doesn't appear on Kralik -glass.com?
Marin, you can be counted upon to acquire the most interesting and loveliest glass! It's name describes it perfectly.
Wonderful find!! Chipped or not, I'd have bought too. Your collection is spectacular!!
The Brain Maze is a pattern found on some examples on Kralik-glass.com as Maze. Those examples are primarily in the ground as seen on a piece which is classified in "Das Bohmische Glas" as unidentified production. I published an article on the Kralik site linking both the Maze decor and the ground of those examples to Welz production. I use the term Maze, and not Brain Maze.
The term Brain Maze is one which was used in this forum a number of years ago. The website being referenced shows three examples they have classified as Kralik Brain Maze. The first example there is an example in the same shape as this posted vase, but in a cadmium yellow ground. The other two examples there are not the same surface texture as this example, nor the Cadmium yellow example on that site.
The use of a Cadmium yellow ground is fairly well documented as being used by Welz, in decors such as Spiraloptisch and draped. The ground color is found on a number of documented Welz shapes.
To the best of my knowledge, it is not a ground color which is linked to Kralik production.
I think it is also noteworthy that on that site, the Cadmium yellow piece is notated in the text as "Kralik, Welz", where the other two example exhibiting a noticeably different surface texture are designated as Kralik production only. This confusing nomenclature for the 3 examples would seemingly give a nod to Welz's use of a Cadmium yellow ground.
I believe that the example you are referencing on the website is actually Welz production mistakenly identified as Kralik on that site. That in turn would seemingly also indicate that your vase is Welz and not Kralik.
Thanks kivatinitz for your thoughts.
As Peggy mentioned the vase on Etsy is a Kralik Honeycomb Panel, which I have an example of in a different shape
Thanks also, Peggy!
It's a great vase which is just the right kind of different I like. I had not seen another like it in either shape or decor. It is a sort of light amber colour under the iridescence. I think the texture makes the base colour especially difficult to discern. It does look rather olive green (the seller's photos definitely made it look that shade) but it's a bit different in person.
Much appreciated, Patricia!
Thanks also, Scott!
I'm fairly open minded when it comes to a chip or two on glass. As long as it's fairly represented by the seller & reflected in the asking price, then why turn down something nice? As I like to say, you wouldn't throw out the Venus De Milo because it has no arms! :-)
Hi Craig,
thanks for your interesting input as always. I did notice that the attribution was somewhat uncertain on that site as well. As I'd not seen another example just like it before, I was a bit stumped. When I first unboxed it, I thought I'd perhaps picked up a variation on Welz Ripple, but on inspection it was not the case. The shape didn't really ring any bells either. The double gourd I have seen on a lot of Victorian glass, usually the satin type.
As I replied to Peggy above, the base colour is quite difficult to pin down, which also stumped me a bit. In various ways it doesn't really fit in with the base colours I can observe on the rest of my Bohemian iridescent glass.
I would be very pleased to find out that it is Welz. Glad that I took a chance on it!
Very nice vase Marin!
I like to use the "when will I see another one of these again!"philosophy and if the damage isn't too bad and like you say your are prewarned why not :)
Thanks also, Bernard!
Totally agree!
How interesting all these comments, I enjoy all them....
This vase has certainly opened up a lot of discussion, that's for sure!
Pretty.
I agree that the shape is "new" and not one I have a record of.
I am intrigued by your description of the ground color, as I have three pieces of Welz which use a ground color that is hard to describe. It varies a little in appearance based on the exterior treatment, which in this case is an iridescent finish. As opposed to amber, it is more of an odd shade of "brown".
If Possible, I would love it if you could send me images of the piece against a white/gray/beige background color. You can use the contact email on my website if you do not still have my "msn" email.
Based on my research, and knowledge of Welz production, I am reasonably confident that this is an example of the Maze decor by Welz, but in a surface finish I have not seen before.
I would add that the Maze decor is most commonly seen, but not exclusively, in the ground colors as shown on my website. They are a green, an amber, and a third color which is also a little hard to describe.
Great find!! Fascinating piece of production!
Thanks again, Craig, this is all super interesting, & I'll get some photos to you shortly!