Posted 13 years ago
bohemiangl…
(647 items)
Just in from across the Atlantic (France, to be precise), a rare vase in Rubin Matt Iris ground (Ruby Matte Iridescence), decorated by painting a design into a stencil with etching ink (which removes the surface iridescence, leaving a negative of the design), then embellishing with burnishing gold. This pattern is known as Dek I/117. A coating of brilliant blue iridescence covers the deep ruby colored glass. The decor number I/117 is written within the ground and polished pontil. Of added interest is the name Lourdes in script that has been stenciled on as part of the design by the Loetz decorators - clearly a special order from France, where there was a definite appetite for Loetz glass. In addition to this piece, I also have a Loetz creamer in Blau Iris with the name "Seugnot" (a turn-of-the-century Parisian patisserie) etched on the bottom, and I am told that a newly published book of Loetz line drawings by Jitka Lnenickova contains records of numerous commissions of Loetz products from French buyers. Can you imagine picking up a Loetz vase as a souvenir in Lourdes, or ordering a pastry from a French bistro, and adding cream to your coffee from a Loetz pitcher? What a time that must have been... :)
I love this vase and was your under bidder! Congratulations, it is a great find and lovely vase! I am rubin DEK I/117 with envy!!! :)
I forgot to add that I am so glad that a fellow GH and Loetz aficionado is now the new owner of this vase! Congratulations!
Thanks - my lovely wife actually bought it for me for Father's Day!
She is a good woman! It is also nice to see other couples that also appreciate Loetz art glass together! I feel very lucky that my husband loves this glass as much as I do otherwise I would be in lots of trouble!
Well it's interesting - her passion is antique and vintage jewelry. She does also like some studio glass, and has a few nice pieces. She teaches me about jewelry and I teach her about glass - the result is that antiquing is always fun for both of us and we each have an appreciation for the stuff that the other collects!
I've tried and tried to indoctrinate my hubby on the subject but it just hasn't taken hold. At least he's supportive of the habit instead of against it and he does just let me buy my own gifts for myself :) .
What a great gift!
The piece that almost came to California! Congrats Warren, another beauty!
Thanks, Brian - when you have some free time, can you look in Jitka's book and see if this shape is in there, and who the customer might have been? Should be Form Nr. 179 or a similar shape, ca. 1900.
What a wonderful and extremely rare find!!! (your wife :-)
The vase is extremely cool too!
Interesting that your piece has a polished pontil and mine (DEK I / 116) has a flat bottom. Mine does have the gold I / 116 on the bottom. Maybe the shape difference ?
Right - the rim on mine is fire polished - had to be attached to a punty rod to do that.
Also of interest is the fact that this decor seems to come with different background colours ...
This has a blue background ... the one on kralik-glass.com has a bronze background ... and one that came up on eBay recently appears to be in rubin matte ... or is very well loved (worn) ! ...
My head is nearly back to normal by now ! ... but with 2 variations why not 3 ?
Cheers
Actually, all three examples that you mention are "Rubin Matte Iris" (rubin glass with a matte iris coating). They were then finished like Warren explained with etching ink and burnishing gold. The DEK I/117 that you found on Kralik-Glass.com is our vase. It appears to have a bronze tone because there is more burnishing gold on it similar to the color on your vase when you look down on the rim.
Hi Deb
So much room for ambiguity here isn't there ... Think I may have used the wrong word ... Was using "background" in the context of the mistletoe / decoration ... (rather than the base color of the glass) ...
Should have said ?
... comes with variations in the surface iridescent layer ...
1 Blue = this piece and the one you sold on eBay a while back
2 Burnished Gold = your piece on Kralik-glass.com (&PGM)
3 ? Rubin matte = last pic on top row of the following link
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/251085895744?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_1182wt_922
This last piece almost looks like a negative image ... and the colors shift with the light ... Took some time to sort out even with the 3 pics side by side ...
... or I may just be mistaken ... :-)
Some of the differences that you are seeing can be caused by variables in photography and then of course there are variables created when you have hand applied finishes, degrees of use, effects of sun, age, rubbing, etc. I have tried to demonstrate some of these variables in the link below by showing a side by side photo of two vases and as well as two photos of our vase with different camera settings. Even with the variables in the background coloration the decor name is "Rubin Matte Iris" and the decoration or DEK is I/117 (mistletoe).
https://picasaweb.google.com/petersend22/DEKI117Examples?authkey=Gv1sRgCNzolbDDyfqadg#
Hi Deb
Thanks for the link .... stunning pieces ... and is good to see them together under the same lighting conditions ...
Do you still have the "bluer" or is that the one that you sent to me (via eBay) ... if so I may be able to arrange another comparative pic ...
As I implied above sorting this out was playing tricks with my mind .... thought it may be of interest to others ...
Cheers
Steve, The bluer one is yours. A great example and I love the shape.