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At the time I bought this jug from England (Pic. 1) I rushed to post it without even having received it. Now have it and have been able to compare it with others from my collection. The comparison has proven quite illuminating.

If you consult my previous post, you will realize that 3175 is one of several Loetz jugs featured in Ricke as Loetz tableware". The handles vary. The black and white period photograph shows crackle ware. Therefore, it has been widely assumed it was made only in clear crackle.

Another set of premises has to do with the hollow handle shape and the presence of a polished pontil. attributed to a design by none other than Kolo Moser. All other variants have been assumed to be non-Loetz design shifts, particularly the Tango variants.

However, pitchers in my collection show a wide range of variations. The handles vary. In some pitchers, it is hollowed out and integral to the piece. In others, it is attached in an oval or a square space (Pic.. 2)

In addition, when looked as a group, I found jugs with polished pontils (Pic. 4), broken pontils ( the yellow one in Pic. 3) and completely cut from the top, no pontil.

It is by now commonplace knowledge that Loetz made in-house variations of popular designs, and that other manufacturers, most notably Ruckl and Kralik, made wares
which were practically indistinguishable from Loetz pieces.

Therefore, I am proposing that they all be considered Loetz until it can be conclusively established, either by design books or catalogs, which were made by lesser houses. I must admit I was a bit taken aback when my beloved red/black martini glasses, which I had always considered non-Loetz, appeared as such in a recent Tango exhibit in the Czech Republic. Why? Because I have a matching red pitcher with an attached black oval handle that goes perfectly with them, and a cocktail shaker in black glass with a red top that also matches. As far as Tango, I have red and yellow with oval handles in clear or black.

In an ironic twist, I bought a large clear crackle without a pontil because a dealer informed me, it was " cheap glass, but perfect for beer", and another one as "Modern Italian glass". Needless to say, I use them all!

Four sizes so far: 8", 7", 6" and 4.5"