Regular readers of this blog know that I collect many different things. One of my favorite collections (and of course they're all favorite) is a grouping of small, green enameled tumblers. My glasses are all four inches high and lovely shades of chartreuse.
The glasses are all hand-blown and most likely 19th-century or early 20th-century Czechoslovakian. They are also properly called Bohemian Glass.
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| Metropolitan Museum of Art |
Enameled glass was developed in the 12th century by Islamic artists in what is now Egypt and Syria. To read a short history of the original enameled glass like the gorgeous piece above, go here.
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| eBay.com |
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Hello Mark:
ReplyDeleteBy a strange co-incidence, we have recently been seeking out small jugs made of green coloured glass. Not unlike the glass of your water glasses, but without the decoration, they are used for serving water or spirits, usually Palinka or Unicum in Hungary.
Your glasses are so beautifully decorated and we like the naive 'folk art' nature of the decoration. It gives them a purposeful look and encourages their use for every day as opposed to the more ornate Ludwig Moser version which must surely be kept as an ornament.
Perhaps as you seem to suggest that your glasses may originate in Eastern Europe, it explains why we often see such examples here in Budapest. There is nothing else for it, your collection can be increased overnight with a quick trip over here!!!
Dear Jane and Lance,
DeleteI do believe that my glasses come from the neighbors of Hungary, and perhaps Hungary itself. And I can imagine that I would be in Antiquing Heaven to see the examples that are commonplace to you! But you can also imagine that in the strange life of objects, their circuitous journey from Eastern Europe to Florida makes finding such glasses a rare event. Sometimes that makes the hunt and discovery all the more fun! But in any case, I would love to visit someday.
Dear Mark:
DeleteIf you find yourself in Europe, you must let us know!!!
But yes, the thrill of the chase of the green glass across continents.....we can feel the excitement!
I will absolutely let you know, should I find myself in Europe!
DeleteYour glasses are lovely - do you have a light beneath them to illuminate them in the evening?
ReplyDeleteThey have photographed particularly well, I like the reflection at the bottom of the last image.
I have a green glass container, more the colour green of your last image, and this post has encouraged me to go and take another look at it.
It has a stem and bowl similar to a goblet with quite an ornate lid finishing with a finial flourish. It too has banding in gold with enamelled flowers and birds of paradise. It seems to be signed Roye, but that is all I know about it.
Dear Rosemary,
DeleteI photographed the little tumblers twice, once with lighting and once without, and the unlit photographs with just a white background turned out much better. While I don't display them with lighting, they do show off well because they reside in a small case with glass shelves and a mirrored back (the first photo).
I looked for Roye glass on the Internet but wasn't able to find anything . . .
Dear Mark is this your inspiration with a twist, or is that still to come?
DeleteNo, no. Actually, I was thinking of taking photographs of a scene month to month, and to show a whole year, sort of a time-lapse, so it's a long way off — if I can make it succeed!
DeleteOne on my followers said she was thinking of doing something similar but showing the seasons.
DeleteI had thoughts of doing a particular tree during the year, if I can find one that has good autumn colour and also blossom in spring.
Dear Mark, You didn't tell us how you acquired your beautiful Bohemian glasses. We recently visited a small town by the name of Zwiesel, in Bavaria and near the Czech Republic border. In Zwiesel you will find the Theriesienthaler Glasmuseum and nearby there are many glassblowers still producing fine handblown and hand decorated crystal.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of our trip was to find an antique Römer to replace one that was damaged during a dinner party. No such luck. However, after our trip, and after several visits to ebay Germany the exact wine glass was found.
Dear Gina, Congratulations on finding a replacement for your Römer! Isn't it amazing how the Internet has made difficult quests into relatively easy finds.
DeleteI have bought my Bohemian glasses one by one in antique stores, but your comment has made me realize that it wouldn't hurt to regularly check eBay as well!
I bought a lovely one of these a few months ago at an estate sale. I had no idea what it was when I bought it but reading this I clearly know what it is now. I'll have to take a picture and send to you!
ReplyDeleteDear Stefan - I would love to see a photo of your new find! I know the estate sales in Washington, D. C. can be quite exciting. Perhaps you were initially attracted, as I was, to the unique color of the glass.
DeleteMark, Be sure to check with German e-bay, as well. Let me know if I can help. I can send you a few German search words that will get you going in the right category. It also helps if you have a PayPal account should you find something you can't pass up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your suggestions and offer, Gina. I sold two childhood collections with great success on eBay several years ago. In fact I came to the sobering conclusion that I may have been a better investor as a child!!!
DeleteHello Mark, These are another great collection. Many of them feature daisies, which calls to mind the Limoges china of about the same time period which had white and yellow daisies on a green-tinted background. I am very fond of that look because it reminds me of my grandmother, who collected those daisy pieces. When I was in Cleveland this summer, I bought a similar enameled glass, only on a clear base, which was identified as being of German origin.
ReplyDelete--Road to Parnassus
Hello, Parnassus - I am seeing from comments that the enameled glass that I would call Bohemian is popular throughout Europe and that different countries have their own versions of it. Perhaps I need to research a more exact definition of Bohemian. Or maybe the Czech glass workers simply migrated within a broad radius. Incidentally, the Moser company is still producing glass, and today it's very modern.
DeleteHi Mark - Your glasses are beautiful and so charming. I collect old French etched bistro glasses....many with motifs from nature: lilies of the valley, grapevines, ferns, etc. I love displaying mine together. Wonderful collection!
ReplyDeleteLoi
Hi, Loi - Your etched bistro glasses sound lovely and highly photographic — I hope you feature them in one of your future postings.
DeleteLove them now go find them in blue!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI know, I know, it's blue and aqua for Kevin. Actually, I think the most popular enameled glass, or at least the greatest quantity that I see in antique shops is ruby red.
DeleteHello Mark,
ReplyDeleteYour collection looks very nice. Green glass is very pleasant to the eye, I think, and I like the floral designs on yours. I was interested to read about Ludwig Moser because we were having a stroll around eBay on the weekend and saw some of his glass advertised.
As Gina has suggested, you should try German eBay. It is such a treasure trove and using google translate helps the language difficulties.
Bye for now
Kirk
PS
I like the idea of photographing a tree throughout the year. I have tried to do it but always forget to photograph each month and so loose the sequence!
Hi, Kirk,
DeleteOne of the great things about blogging is the conversation that ensues, and I have to admit that in publishing this posting, I've learned at least as much as I've posted.
The only problem for me with photographing a tree in different seasons is that Florida has only two seasons!! So my photo project will have to be more creative . . .
These are just too gorgeous, Mark. I'm swooning over these glasses. Most especially I happen to love green glass and when they're embellished so daintily and beautifully I'm loving them even more. Thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteHi, Yvette - Green is my favorite color, and photographs simply can't do justice to that chartreuse green glass, especially with the touches of gold.
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