Posted 11 years ago
bohemiangl…
(641 items)
**Rainbow glass made by Loetz was first mentioned as a novelty in 1890 in Ackermann's Illustrierte Wiener Gewerbe-Zeitung (Illustrated Vienna Business Newspaper), 1890, cols. 327-328. It was also shown at the 1890 exhibition of the Kunstgewerbeverein (Arts and Crafts Association) in Vienna.
Rainbow glass was probably carried out in small series only. The only references to it in the cut-out paper patterns (Ricke II) are for commissioned pieces for L. Boutigny in Paris, right arount 1890.** The Boutigny vases shown were all fairly small; this one is an exception- it is fairly large, at 5.0" tall and about 8.0" across, and weighing nearly 3 pounds.
In terms of execution, this is a technically difficult piece. alternate patches of pink, turquoise blue, topaz yellow, and brown are embedded in a colorless ground one color fading imperceptibly into the next. The bowl has 12 lobes, and on top of this are 26 diagonal ribs that flow from the top of the bowl section to the base. The area around the top of the bowl (and the bottom of the rim) is ground flat; presumably to give the rim a flat base on which to sit. This piece is the exception to a rule: The base has a large shallow dimple, which is ground and polished, yet the factory rim is ground flat and polished. The decoration shows that this is intentional, as this type of rim is also found on certain marmoriertes vases from the same time period. To add to the coolness factor, the topaz yellow sections are highly UV reactive, as the last photo shows.
One of the earliest decors, only pre-dated by Octopus, Marmoriertes, and Intarsia, it is also very hard to find in the open market. This only the third or fourth one I've seen outside of the Passau Museum Collection.
**source: Loetz Bohemian Glass 1880-1940, by Mergl, Ploil, & Ricke (Hatje Cantz)
Warren, Stunning thank you!
Thanks, Lee - I've been on pins and needles hoping this would arrive safely :)
Warren, well worth the wait..WOW!
Great example, Warren. You were lucky to find this rare and beautiful piece. I did notice in Jitka's book that rainbow glass was introduced again around 1907 but I am not sure what these examples look like. This one is definitely one of the earlier ones.
Beautiful glass!
scott
And here's a Webb with almost the same gold collar ..you think they called it wrong and its Loetz...?
oops forgot this...its been a long day ... https://dirksoulisauctions.com/Cat/LP22363-a-good-thomas-webb-rainbow-cased-art-glass-vase?fbclid=IwAR2Tt_DhnqgYsOS7wR6C3EGtsliJTgJpC37n9IgGJS65hbkApAwzo_k6qXs
Shuzbut - Yes, I think the auction house got it wrong. But to their defense most auction houses don't understand the depth of production of Loetz. This early example of Loetz rainbow can even be double identified by the applied decoration on the "gold collar". See the "DEK I/32" examples shown on loetz.com. https://www.loetz.com/decors-a-z/dek/dekor-dek-enter-here/dek-painted-gold-relief/dek-i-32
LoetzDance I read what you said but was the vase I was showing as Web bought by some who claimed it as loetz .. just because the collar is close but not the same ...? I'll have to hunt down some Web Rainbow glass ..this is interesting ..later '-))
Shuzbut - Maybe I missed something here but the only vase that I found that you showed was the link to an auction house's rainbow vase. While the auction house attributed that vase to Webb, it is actually Loetz. The decoration on the collar is an important clue in identifying the maker of the examples shown both at the auction house and on Loetz.com.
lol but is the one (meaning the one I posted) that same one which is listed on loetz posting ...in other words is it a Thomas Well called loetz by the new buyer.... smiling. I see Ruby Lane has one by T. Web ....
https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=AOaemvLKtmmuvZPN0hCyzzdPt-dw8sRr9w:1642789678951&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=thomas+webb+rainbow+cased+art+glass+vases&fir=HLEyrwqedxRSlM%252CpFiGdbXYCjWcwM%252C_%253BT_kTNrLVp1xIRM%252Cyf6NXG4-WZ5yAM%252C_%253BapaSuW1xwZFVzM%252CO_22K7LlUrVshM%252C_%253BzW243MijK6WXtM%252CA1KsoW7UZ4GnpM%252C_%253BDHEyMQl-np2ooM%252Cu-5yGwv9waACqM%252C_%253B2RhxkqYRMt49RM%252CSq9NGDndMeIOiM%252C_%253BIaPF_ZEA_rmK5M%252CMashNxTFEm4XNM%252C_%253BtbYGvfA6CoRItM%252C3rARBNv0aWp8KM%252C_%253BFmOO9UqnTA-fPM%252ClkF5zSLcsOd8tM%252C_%253BKG0Yf46OROn7dM%252CfvwQhKyDz78MRM%252C_&usg=AI4_-kRdfh8Sht4hbZp77hhtGiE71APohg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwju-YO6vMP1AhXHk4kEHZDzDYQQjJkEegQIFhAC&biw=1920&bih=955&dpr=1
So these might be loetz...?
https://www.jeffreysevans.com/auction/webb-cased-rainbow-glass-pair-of-vases/
Pretty glass, Interest post thank you for posting it.