? Unknown Scandinavian art glass vase
This is an attractive 3 colour vase, deep pink, grey and clear glass and displays well. It is 13cm tall and 11.5cm (max) width. It is unsigned on the base. There is some damage on the upper part of one side. It is a small 2mm chip with an area of polished flatness surrounding it, as if someone has tried to grind out the chip. It is not too noticeable but a flaw to an otherwise nice vase. I wonder if this is a manufacturer's 'seconds' vase hence no signature? If you could help me identify the manufacturer, artist and date I would be very grateful. Many thanks
Purchased on ebay.co.uk from private seller for £30
Other
No
Good morning, Gillian,
This form of cased (the technique of combining layers of different colors) glass vase was one that was very popular among the Scandinavian glass manufacturers in the mid 20th Century. Without a signature it is almost impossible to attribute this to a particular shop. These would have been signed on the base; I think it unlikely that the manufacturer’s name would have been polished out and you are most likely correct that it is trying to hide a flaw. However, it does impact the value of this somewhat.
Here are a few recent auction sales of comparable – some by known makers, others by unknown makers – to give you a sense of the variety and depth of the market and also what they are bringing at auction today.
($35) https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/vintage-murano-scandinavian-art-glass-vase-aee42f48da
($50) https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/kaj-franck-iittala-blister-glass-scandinavian-a-63b46eebc6
($50) https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/kosta-scandinavian-art-glass-colorless-apple-vase-0b748719b1
($80) https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/vicke-lindstrand-kosta-boda-sweden-cased-scan-0c240d9b2c
($50) https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/pair-scandinavian-art-glass-vases.-height-6-1-2-e5c4f1681e
Based on the photographs and information provided, and subject to examination, you have a:
A tricolor Scandinavian cased art glass heart-form vase
Unattributed maker, mid 20th Century
In deep pink, gray and clear glass.
5 1/8 inches (13 cm) tall by 4 ½ inches (11.5 cm) wide
PROVENANCE: acquired on ebay.co.uk
CONDITION: client represents there to be damage to the upper part of one side
$40-60 (represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary).
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, and thank you for using Mearto.
Good morning, Gillian,
I don't know of any off the top of my head...but you might call the Corning Glass Museum (in Corning, NY) and see if they can suggest a website or museum. They are THE authority in the US for all things glass, not just American glass, and at least you wouldn't have to worry about a language barrier.
Good luck!
Thank you very much Delia for appraising this vase and I bought it understanding the damage would affect it's value. It is visually really quite a stunning vase :)
I have spent many hours searching the internet for a similar vase and have found an example of an attributed Orrefors tricolour cased vase using a similar grey colour surrounding a blue centre rather than this deep pink/cranberry.
I have also found a resource online, 'The Danish Glassworks Resource Museum', which very comprehensively describes Holmegaard, Kastrup and Funen Glassworks products by artist and date, which did help me identify another vase I have. As it is a very extensive site, it is taking some time to get through! Do you know of an equivalent Swedish website or of any glass museum centres in Denmark and Sweden that I could contact?
Many thanks in anticipation for your help.
Gill