Posted 12 years ago
MFNYC
(1 item)
Wondering if anyone can tell me anything about this - even if the answer is "it's junk"!
It's glass, almost 18 inches high, and weighs 4.5 pounds (yes, it's heavy). The color is dark gold, and I was told that the decorative scenes (including cranes, flowers, trees, mountains, and characters in Chinese dress) are a brass overlay. The circumference at the widest point is 20 inches. Diameter of the base is 4.5 inches.
The oddest thing about this is that it's not actually an ewer or vase -- there's no bottom, as per the photo. Perhaps it was a lamp? I held a lit match inside it and the glass became translucent. Looks like it would have a nice glow if there were a light source in it.
I saw this at an outdoor market in NYC and was drawn to it for some reason...even though it has ZERO in common with the rest of my decor (which you can see a bit of in the photo). Can anyone shed any light? Thanks!
To my opinion this is a bohemian vase made about 1880, a very good example of early Chinoiserie style. The vase is carefully enameled and then guilded (no brass). It may have been made by Harrach.
No, not junk.
Beautifully made and lots of hand work in this.
Welcome!
Thanks, kairomalte. I looked up Harrach and I see some similar items. Though there is no marking on this -- no name, no date.
Racer4four, I agree: it's beautifully made. And it feels so substantial.
I'm still wondering: why no bottom?