Loetz Marmoriertes (Malachit), ca. 1890

Acquired in a trade - this is a stunning example of Loetz marmoriertes glass in malachite green. I had a miniature in my collection, but I was looking for a full-sized vase to add to the group, and this one delivers with a wallop!

A layer of white opal glass, marbled with green fiber bundles is collected over a colorless layer. Decorated with large gold-plated enameled details and applied cabachons resembling moonstone and garnets (see third photo), and accents of gold decorator's ink radiate downward. The base photo (photo 2) shows a large ground and finely polished pontil. The last photo shows both pieces now in my collection. The smaller of the two also has a polished pontil in which the number 3849 is written in gold ink.

The name Malachit is determined according to the data in the Loetz factory inventory. The cited date of origin (1880) is not reliable, as according to contemporary reports, the Loetz company began to manufacture glass resembling semi-precious stones just before the year 1888. Green Malachitglas is mentioned in 1893 in connection with the World's Fair in Chicago. This fact suggests that the origin of Malachit is later than 1880. The forms of these vases are similar to those shown in Ricke, Band II, ca. 1890.

Source: Lötz Böhmisches Glas 1880-1940, Band 1 (Werkmonographie) by Helmut Ricke, published by Prestel