Posted 10 years ago
VioletOrange
(150 items)
Photo 1: This is one of my favorite Czech vases. At 10+ inches tall, it is almost the size of a basketball. I think it is strikingly beautiful with its multiple pairs of lovebirds, beautiful colors and mica inclusions. Its story is even more interesting to me.
Photo 2: Colorized close-up photo to more clearly show one of the lovebirds.
Photo 3: The original – a Rene Lalique “Perruches” vase. These were made (not sure when they stopped) in various colors. They were introduced in 1919. For other examples see http://rlalique.com/rene-lalique-perruches-vase-8445 (this example sold for 18,750 Euros) and also http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/16899412_a-rene-lalique-molded-and-frosted-glass-vase-height-9 (this example sold for $27,500)
Photo 4: This version is by Consolidated Glass of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. For other examples see http://www.ebay.com/itm/CONSOLIDATED-ART-DECO-MARTELE-LOVEBIRDS-LAMP-BASE-/370355501715?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item563ae87a93 and also http://www.rubylane.com/item/596599-2233/Consolidated-Martele-Lovebirds-Vase-Tri and also http://www.rubylane.com/item/596599-1180/Consolidated-Martele-Cased-Glass-Lovebirds
All the Lovebirds vases are 10.5 inches tall with 9.5 inch diameters.
THE STORY:
Consolidated Glass’s Ruben Haley’s designs were influenced greatly by an exposition in Paris in 1925. The exposition had the top designers from all over the world competing and showcasing their “moderne” wares. One glass designer emerged overwhelmingly as the best at this exposition – Rene Lalique.
Haley brought back Lalique’s ideas and actually copied some of his patterns. In 1926, Consolidated introduced their “Martele” sculptured art ware line. This line had raised molded designs of birds, flowers, insects, fruit and people. Their Lovebirds vase was an exact copy of the Lalique “Perruches” design.
Other pieces, such as the Bird of Paradise, Le Fleur, and Katydid vases had close connections to Lalique originals.
This line was popular and the original molds were passed on to other glass companies (Phoenix and then Fenton) when Consolidated closed its doors. (from Worthpoint)
QUESTIONS:
1. This Czech example has the semi-circular “Czechoslovakia” provenance mark – is it Kralik?
2. With this mark and not a “made in” mark, does this mean the Czech maker copied the Lalique “prototype” before Consolidated did in 1926?
3. Anyone else have a Czech or a Fenton example (I do not know if Fenton actually used the mold from Consolidated/Phoenix)?
4. How do you think this Czech example compares with Lalique? If you think it's better, I'll accept $25K for it (lol).
Great post. I like the consolidated best, but up close the lalique. I need the kralik in my collection though....I have no guesses or research about the mold market but Kralik and others did pieces in molds (in the style of lalique)- usually using the white semi-translucent glass. Yours is a rare glass type, I have seen about a dozen in this decor but not in this color combination and diagonal-line pattern.
p.s. with Kralik size does matter
kralik1928,
Thanks for your comments. I was a little disappointed that others did not find this posting as interesting as I thought they would. Probably my lack of knowledge. I thought Czech/Bohemian pieces that can be positively identified as direct copies/reproductions of other known work would be rare/not often seen.
I was hoping to see pictures of other examples that were identifiable "copies". I think it would be fascinating - make a good article/post or series of posts. In fact I have not seen any others - albeit my experience level is not that extensive. I know, for one example, that more companies than just Kralik produced "Iris" color schemes/decors - but I had never seen a piece such as this one which matched in size and mold design and can be linked directly to the known production of another company at a specific time.
You indicate that there are other "lovebird" pieces out there with appearance even more similar to the Lalique or Consolidated, i.e. "using the white semi-translucent glass". In some ways I find this example more creative because of the unusual color combination , mica inclusions and diagonal-line pattern. On the downside, the birds are very hard to see on this decor.
The more I think about it there are other "linked" items out there, e.g. Stevens & Williams & Kralik Silveria and Loetz and Kralik "Streifen und Flecken". This would make an interesting list.
Great post & vases
You are in good company, there is a mild interest in deeply covered treasure. For starters, the best things about these types of pieces is they are not listed in line drawings and therefore cannot be positively identified but pricing remains reasonable. Even though the production records were destroyed these pieces remain in collections and may be our only chance to understand this type of glass production. The shape would indicate that there was a demand for this popular theme in Europe at this time -even the base is similar to those french iron blow-out pieces. There are a great many pieces that have a French-Czech connection and that is of great interest to me....(curators must hate this type of forum but would be the first to borrow these ideas)
Lastly, collectors really appreciate this type of banter more than you give them credit for even though it's hard to contribute opinions as it is outside their field of collecting.... and that is what makes this piece so rare and great.
jericho,
Thanks for your insight.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Signed-Czech-art-glass-cased-LOVEBIRD-vase-10-1-4-h-/161180022968?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item258713f8b8
THIS IS WHAT I MEAN...
jericho,
wow, thanks - never saw one before
jericho et al,
LOTS of copies of Lalique by Czech and other makers:
http://rlalique.com/Sections/Fakes/lalique-copies-and-close-calls.php