Posted 12 years ago
manddmoir
(22 items)
I have a rule, I only buy imperfect when perfect is probably impossible.
When I saw this my heart skipped a beat. This is the kind of thing you never expect to see outside a museum; often such enamelling is a one off and if not, like this example, survivors are often a little worse for wear.
I knew exactly what it was, as there is an identical one in the Harrach book and in the recent exhibition: the label at the Harrach exhibition says:
‘Designed by Joseph Petricek, Japonais design 1890-91. Pale Citrin Glass decorated with black paint and coloured enamels’.
Here in all its glory is a front view, back, side and bottom.
Sadly the black paint (I suspect enamel but they translated it as paint) is largely worn, but other than that it is a great survivor.
Oh and yes of course, I did get it!
It was lying on it's side in the depository of UPM before the exposition but this is what it looks like in more pristine condition.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QOaLg2nq8Ei9kb_9uNfYt_iepaC6HmOqHRqF2S98L-U?feat=directlink
Well I did say it was past its prime!
It still displays nicely from the front. I have another harrach piece that is a little faded. I have it displayed in a window with a diffusing white shade behind it. It makes the decor pop up to the forefront again in a way that it doesn't do in other conditions.
It is also japonisme.
Beautiful. I would have done the same thing, in fact, I have done it before. I purchased a piece in not so perfect condition because I was affraid I would never see anything like it again. Gret job!