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In the world of antiques, there's glass and then there's art glass.
Today, Washington's own Dale Chihuly is the world's most famous American art glass artist. Back in the day, it was Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Tiffany had American and European rivals, including such firms as Steuben, Quezal and Handel.
In today's What's It Worth, we answer readers' questions about their European art glass vases. One is from Austria and has significant retail value. The other is French and was worth a bit of money at one time.
Q. This glass vase is very colorful and has been in our family for decades. It has silvery colored metal banded around some parts of the glass and is all in very good condition. Can you tell us who made this and a value, please? -- Peggy in Spokane
A. From a distance, this 7-inch-high iridescent blue and green vase looks as if it could have come from the Tiffany Studios. It is not by that renowned American glassmaker, but was made during the height of Tiffany's popularity in the early 20th century.
This is a piece of Loetz glass from the area of Europe once called West Bohemia and now part of the Czech Republic.
Loetz is an interesting story, one that goes back to 1840, when an existing glassworks was purchased by Johann Loetz. A master craftsman, he died eight years after starting the business, and the operation was continued by his widow, Susanne.
In the mid-19th century she became one of the most influential artisans and businesswomen in that part of the world. She even renamed the firm to indicate the factory was under the control of "the widow of Johann Loetz."
Most Loetz glass is unsigned, and this piece bears no signature. There were several smaller glassworks in the area making products similar to Loetz and collectors call all these unsigned items "Loetz type" glass.
The silver overlay on this piece is also unsigned, except for a few numerals which don't help us determine who did that part of the work.
Author Victor Arwass, in his 1970 book Glass: Art Nouveau to Art Deco, notes Loetz used bronze, silver and other metals to decorate their pieces.
"Czar Nicholas II had Loetz glass lamps mounted in silver on the royal yacht," Arwass says. "Some of Loetz's vases (like this one) had silver overlay in Art Nouveau floral designs."
Loetz glass is highly regarded by collectors and very popular. Though not as expensive as Tiffany glass, this piece will have an auction estimate of $1,500 to $2,000.
Q. We've been told our 91/2-inch vase is "Cameo Glass" and was made in France. It's striking, with a design of thistles on an orange-cream background with highlights of deeper orange and red. It is signed "Legras" and with another mark we can't read. Unfortunately, there is what you would probably call "serious damage," with several large cracks and a chip. Does this retain any value? -- Kristen in Richland.
A. Your vase is French, made by the firm of Legras et Cie (and Company) made in about 1900 in the town of Pantin in north-central France.
The firm started in 1864 and, while their works are beautiful, Legras was always meant to be a "commercial" glass operation, not an "art glass house." They didn't see themselves in quite the same league as such top makers as Renee Lalique and Emile Gall. Nor did they go after the same market.
Today's collectors think somewhat differently and Legras' works are highly regarded.
This is cameo glass, a process that was first perfected about 2,000 years ago in ancient Rome and Greece. Glassmakers there devised a method of "casing" several colors of glass together. Carvers then skillfully cut patterns into the glass, revealing the layers of colors.
In modern times, an acid etching and/or a copper engraving wheel process was used to produce designs through as many as five different colors of glass.
This example is badly damaged and there will be a considerable impact on value.
As in most antiques, collectors want high quality and beauty. From that perspective, this is a very good example. Collectors also demand excellent condition. Many examples of French cameo glass are available and buyers can wait for an undamaged piece before making a purchase.
Undamaged, yours is a $1,000 vase. Damaged, the value is only $100 to $200.
w Terry Maurer, a Tri-Cities personal property appraiser and antique dealer, is a member of the Certified Appraisers Guild of America. You may submit your antiques and collectible questions to What's It Worth by e-mail to whatsitworth@clearwire.net.
