Argy-Rousseau
History
Joseph Gabriel Rousseau was a scientist, engineer and artist. In 1913 he married Mariane Argyriades. He took part of her name calling himself Gabriel Argy-Rousseau.
Styles
1906 - ran a small research ceramics factory & a workshop at Ternes in Paris.
1914 - Pate de verre with fruit, flowers & leaves, art nouveau style.
1919 - Enamelled scent bottles, clear & opal glass with female figures, flowers & butterflies. Signed G. A-R or G. Argy-Rousseau.
1921 - Formed a limited company with Moser-Millot an art gallery owner & formed Les-Pates-de-Verre Argy Rousseau.
early1920s - very thin walled & translucent glass with relief decoration and rich colours. Decoration included: insects; spiders, butterflies, moths animals; lions, wolves, deer figures; nudes, masks, apple pickers. Items: vases, bowls, lampshades, night lights, perfume burners, ash trays, bookends, candlesticks, trays, inkwells, fountains, paper weights, plaques. Plaques were used as pendants, attached to furniture and used in lampshades. 1925 onwards - translucent pate de crystal perfected, v fine glass. Most pieces are not large although they can be thick and heavy. Well known lizard vase modern in style.
1928 - Marcel Bouraine designed a number of pate de crystal nudes & other figures with Argy-Rousseau. These are signed usually with both names.
1931 - The recession resulted in closure of the factory. 1933 - He worked from home designing bowls and vases. Geometric designs, blues, pinks or amber. Some enamelled vases with platinum, silver and gold gilt. Difficulties Much glass was produced between 1921-1931 however later glass is rare. Most expensive pieces are the Egyptian styles and those with prowling wolves.
See encyclopedia.
Marks can include a number or FRANCE & lower case versions of the signature are known. The signature of A. S. Bouraine in the same style is included on figures.
Buchenau Glassworks
History
Founded as Hilzenhutte 1705 divided in 1856 Destroyed by snow storm in 1935
Designers
Ferdinand Benedikt von Poschinger (1890-1900)
Richard Riemerschmid (1900-
Prices
Millers 95 Tiffany style vase £1100
Styles
1873 - Table Glass
1890-1900s Art Nouveau (~1000 designs!) Curved elegant sweeping in-out profiles. Carved flowers, combed threaded patterns iridescent glass, Galle & Tiffany styles. Galle style cameo
Some unsigned, some numbered
Gilt letters in a circle Ferd. von Poschinger Buchenau Bayern Glasshuttenwerke sometime incl no. No. ..... from 40 to 840 used 1900-1906
Difficulties Quite a number of variations on the signature.
Burgun Schverer & Co
History
1711-1969 Post WWII becomes Verrerie de Meisenthal. See encyclopedia.
Designers
E. Galle (1866-1870?) apprentice
D. & F.(bros) & A (son) Christian ( -1903)
G. Frankenhausen
J. Stenger
mid 1880s supplied Galle with glass incl reproduction of signature 1885 Desire Christian chief designer
1896 contract with Galle ended
1903 Christian leaves Art glass production ceases
Styles
Early Glass-Venetian + Table glass
Later-outstanding glass comprable in quality to Galle.
Wide Variety - multilayer cameo with painted decor of flowers, dragonflies, thistles, abstract motifs.
Metallic lustres trapped foils, streak & threaded glass.
Trapped & painted layer + cameo using etching combined with carving. High quality painted images of Walter Crane.
Also Vases Parlantes:- includes French verses.
Later: interwar years -> pressed glass
Difficulties.
Acid etched vases have been found with fake Galle signatures (Mistake in references books which claims they are genuine) Vallerysthal & Galle designs were actually made by Burgun Schverer
Usually etched and gilt
Alum Bay Glass
History
Founded 1972, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight, near Needles.
Styles
Coloured pieces, marvered, Jack in the Pulpit, sometimes mild iridesence, perfume bottles paperwieghts. Powdered glass marvering. Quality pretty consistent.
Late 20th century. Paper label. Touch of Glass label with schematic of IOW often badly worn
Aalto, Alvar
Finish architect. Signature no guarantee of age pieces widely reproduced. See encyclopedia.
Baccarat
History
Founded 1765, still in production. See encyclopedia.
Styles
Everything! Restrained Art Nouveau, strong Deco. 20th century designs both modern and retrospective. By word for quality.
Marks
Etched common right through to 21st century. Mounts sometimes impressed with Baccarat.
20th century paper label
Etched mark
Bergdala
History
Founded 1889, still in production
Styles
Quirky Scandanvian design as well as standard tableware. Overlooked internationally although produced some interesting designs.
Marks
Paper label common.
Paper label, mid to late 20th century
Bristol Blue Glass Ltd
History
The term Bristol Blue Glass has been in use for over 350 years. It is not always realised that this is also the name for a current UK glass factory based in Bristol.
Styles
Output varies from dometic glassware, special commisions, jewellery, and the downright quirky. High quality engraved caligraphy sometimes appears. Commisioned and limited pieces can be exceptionally fine but are rare. Can be confused with Nazeing that produced Bristol Blue for local museum, Dartington and Thomas Webb who all produced 20th century versions. Bristol Blue from Bristol has a more handmade feel. Ironically, despite many glassbook references, archeology suggests much of the earliest production of original Bristol area glass was green!
Marks
Not always marked.
Engraved mark with date most common
Bagley & Co Ltd
History
Long lived glassworks with strong following amongst collectors. Closed in 1975. See encyclopedia.
Styles
Pressed glass, Deco designs the most desirable, characteristic of an era.
Marks
Paper label used (although rarely found in good condition)
