Posted 12 years ago
catbyrd
(1 item)
This was left to my husband after his father's death in 1985. It is just shy of 3" tall and 3-1/2" wide at it's widest point. The glazing over the glass is iridesent and you can feel the ripples as well as see them. The silver overlay is stamped "Sterling Silver Deposit" but I can find no other markings. There is symetrical indentation in the glass on the bottom of the vase and the name "Alvin" is etched in a script style and directly below that, also etched into the glass, are the numbers 892/358. The glazing is in shades of topaz, blue and a small bit of rose color. The glazing toward the very bottom has a very metalic look in bronze/gold/copper ripples - nothing like the rest of the vase. I cannot find anything that looks just like this and the few items I could find that were similar seemed to have conflicting information. This site seemed to have the most knowledgable participants so I though I would put this out there to see if anyone could tell me more. I appreciate the help.
This is a magnificent Loetz vase designed by one of the top Loetz designers Hofstotter. The 358 indicates Phanomen Genre 358.
Go to the web site LOETZ.COM and on the left click Decors Index. In the second list is Phanomen 358 which shows the same decor in larger pieces. This vas is quite valueable !
Meant to add : you should relist this under LOETZ.
Thank you so much for the information and your suggestion to relist.
Any idea what the "892" portion of the mark means?
892 could be the shape number.
Fascinating. Thank you for your expertise.
I can help you with the mount/overlay info. It's interesting that the Alvin is etched on the glass and not the metal (is that right?).
100% Loetz. Congrats.
to cogito: yes, Alvin is etched on the glass portion.
The Alvin most likely refers to the Alvin Silver Co. given the "sterling silver deposit" stamp on the metal. The Alvin Manufacturing Company was founded in 1886 by William H. Jamouneau in Irvington, New Jersey. The company moved to Sag Harbor, Long Island in 1895 and later changed its name to the Alvin Silver Co. in 1919. The Alvin Silver Manufacturing Company was known for making not only fine sterling silver flatware, but also for its hollow-ware and toilet ware. The Gorham company of Providence, Rhode Island acquired the Alvin Company’s dies and patterns in 1928.
What's weird is that Alvin is etched in the glass bottom. This would suggest that Loetz and Alvin had a design agreement for this particular decor and overlay form and that the glass was made for the expressed purpose of receiving the leaf/branch type overlay.
Thank you to all who could offer your expertise and vast knowledge. I am always impressed by how small little objects can have such fascinating stories. Can anyone tell me how I would go about getting a legitimate appraisal for this type of item? I've never had the opportunity to need this type of service in the past. Thanks.
Don't go to appraisers if you can help it. go to the web. look up past auction items that are comparable, there are several German auctions that are very good with glass. if you send them a pic they will tell you the reserve and maybe their estimate.
Thanks for the hint Jericho. I always appreciate the help.
I gave similar advice. The best way to estimate collector value is to look up prior auction results. One bid increment below the selling price is the price at which at least two collectors were willing to pay for the item. Retail prices do not reflect this "true" competitive value (i.e., the real value of an item as determined by market forces and more than one willing buyer), as they generally reflect the "true" competitive value + a hefty mark-up (i.e., overhead costs, profit, etc.).
Hi Cogito and yes you too offered this recommendation. I thank you for that. I wish I understood the process better but I so appreciate those of you who do and are willing to share that knowledge.
No problem. Glad I could help. Still interested.
hi catbyrd -- assume you are new to cw -- if so welcome -- will look forward to more post and information on you -- seems we have quite a few newbies tonight posting -- have a great weekend