Posted 13 years ago
LoetzBuddies
(664 items)
Seldom found Loetz decor. Blue and aventurine green spots on clear glass. I only collect iridescent art glass so I had to stretch my rules a bit on this one. However the aventurine is "sparkle" enough. AND blue and green are my favorite colors and put together how could I resist.
p.s. How in the world did Loetz come up with "MEDINA" ?
its a shame the metallic glitter doesn't show here...these are very nice, understated pieces till you see them up close...then they really POP
I'm still looking for an example of Medina. Nice bowl!
bohemianglassandmore : It may take some time. This piece that I bought is the first "live" one I've seen.
So that's where it went! Bother.
Londonloetzlearner : Yes from the Great U.K. to the Great U.S.A. The Loetz people could never have imagined in 1905 that Loetz could fly. In your comment what does "Bother" mean ?
Kind of the English equivalent of shucks - said with English understatement. I was just about hit buy it now myself!
I still can't figure the name "Medina". Spent some time researching the word and the only important thing is the town in Arabia. So did some designer at Loetz just think it was an exotic word ?
Hi LB
Could try this link ... Looks at derivation from Hebrew / Aramaic to Arabic ... Generally seems to come down to Metropolis / City / Capital ... References to Latin Quarter also came up ...
http://www.balashon.com/2007/02/medina.html
Also note the extensive influence of the Middle East and Islamic patterns on early Loetz pieces ... Vienna was a major cross-road /metropolis ...
Trying to place the relevance of the colors ...
SteveS : Great info. Thanks. I thought of the Middle East thing myself.....even the idea of Persian rug designs.
famatta127 (Mr. T)--you are right (as usual) about the "glitter" of the green spots.
The piece just arrived from the U.K. and the photos are tame compared with the real thing.
Medina was the birthplace of the Prophet: as such it is used as a synonym for 'the town'. If there was a colour for Islam it would be green; it falls in between infernal red and heavenly blue. I was thinking of the light on the whitewashed walls that came from the typical Ottoman windows called the "qamariya' and the lamps that are made in Medina as well. I'm also reminded of the colours of some Islamic glass copied by Brocard and Gallé (and their gilded decoration too).
"Blue and Green should never be seen"?
Posted some new pics my friend took with his new camera. Colors are more vivid.
Hi Vetraio
Just for accuracy ...
Medina is the burial site (under a green dome) of Muhammed rather than his birthplace ...
... the colors then lead in the direction of an oasis in the desert ?
Hi Steve, thanks for that correction. A green dome? The early Ottoman flag was green rather the red we on the Turkish flag today. Many thanks!
Now I see that this decor has thick glass as part of the optic effect, like the one just posted by David. Don't see many of these. Hope you still have it?