Retro Flash Back: The Allure of Crackle Glass

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#JournalOfAntiques #Collectibles #CrackleGlass #ArtGlass #Retro #Glass, #Retro, American Society of Appraisers, Antiques, Appraisers Association of America, art market, Auction, certified appraiser, Estate Appraisal

All it takes is one stream of light shining through your window to create a rainbow effect after it illuminated that bottle or vase sitting on your sill. Perhaps, this is the magic that keeps collectors returning to that local tag sale or flea market in search of another sparkling keepsake.

 

Vintage Blenko Crackle Glass Miniature Pitchers

 

Crackle glass, one of the most common collectibles, will produce such an effect from that stray sunbeam, leaving you dazzled without warning when displays of colored, refracted light fill your room. Created as far back as the 16^th century, this dime-store dazzler had a resurgence in the 1950’s and reached it’s zenith in the 1960’s to complement the modern décor of the Madmen era. Bold or clear, shaded or iridescent, crackle glass was available in all varieties and price ranges to complement interior spaces and wallets. From inexpensive eye catchers to pricey floor standing vases, crackle glass was easily available because it is a treatment rather than a type of glass.

 

Vintage Ruby Crackle Glass

 

The ‘crackling’ finish is created when a hot glass object is submerged in cold water, a technique that can be applied to just about any type of sturdy glass. The abrupt temperature change creates a network of fine cracks in the glass leaving the light to deflect patterns of the irregular cracks on other surfaces.

Initially, crackle glass was hand blown, but quick popularity led to less-expensive moulded glass knockoffs. And, since any glass manufacture could utilized the crackling technique, almost every company created crackle glass, including Tiffin, Duncan and Imperial, but the most notable crackle glass firms were located in West Virginia. Especially noted for miniatures, Pilgrim, Rainbow, Kanwha and Bishoff, created those diminutive jugs, vases, and pitchers that typically adorn the interior of many households. But the master manufacturer of crackle glass was Blenko.

 

Blenko Crackle Glass Vases

 

Originally known for producing stained glass, Blenko expanded its glassware to include richly colored, oversized art glass vessels. After the market for stained glass bottomed out in the Depression of 1929, William H. Blenko, the son of the founder was forced to seek out other revenue sources and expanded glassware production to include affordable decorative housewares, including bottles and vases. Their past experience with manufacturing stained glass contributed to the vast color palette that forged Blenko’s reputation. In the mid 1940s, Blenko produced crackle glass miniatures, and by the 1960s large scale versions in both crackle and no-crackle finishes were available. The two prominent artisans for Blenko, Winslow Anderson (1947-1952) was noted for modern shapes and vivid colors, while Wayne Husted, the design director (1952-1963) was responsible for hundreds of designs produced during that period. Joel Philip Myers, Blenko’s design director (1963-1970), a skilled glass blower, was known for elongated forms, spirals, two-color and air twist stoppers.

Today, crackle glass collectors have an array of options to choose from including color, type and size of vessel. Others focus on a particular company or artist. Many of us, however simply collect crackle glass for its bargain prices, and ability to brighten even a cloudy day.

Resources: Journal of Antiques & Collectibles, Etsy

 

The Great Divide – Antique Floor Screens

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19th Century, Antique screen, Antiques, Appraisal, Appraisers Association of America, architectural, Bernards Appraisal Associates, certified appraiser, Chinese export, Chinese screen, Coromandel, decorative art, embroidery, Fine Art, Furniture, Interior Design, jewelry, lacquered panel, Martine White, needlepoint, oil lamp, oriental carpets, Ray & Charles Eames, silk panel, sterling silver, Victorian

Photo 1. Screen Decoration; applied cloisonné Calligraphic Banquet Poem copying a famous poem from 1682.

It may not seem an essential piece of furniture, but an attractive floor screen can easily transform any living space and add dimension to your interior. Coco Chanel recognized the appeal as she famously sought out dozens of antique lacquered screens to adorn her Paris abode. Even Yves Saint Laurent favored the glamour of parchment panels by the designer Jean-Michel Frank. Many interior designers also agree that a thoughtfully placed screen can add drama and mystery to a space.

Whereas drama is not an essential component to a living space, the screen served practical functions as well. From as early as the third century B.C., the screen adorned imperial palaces in China, and was known to not only block drafts but shield the heat of embers in the Victorian period. Even the needlepoint fire screen became the focal point in Victorian homes as it displayed the embroidery skill of the homemaker.

While English and American screens were primarily framed woven panels intended for re-directing heat from the fireplace, Asian screens were hand-painted wooden panels that served purely as decoration. Artists in both China and Japan joined multiple panels to create elaborate scenes of painted imagery using gold and silver leaf to reflect the light of oil lamps. In the 17^th century these painted and lacquered panels soon became symbols of wealth as English and Dutch tradesman began supplying Europe with these exotic decorations.

The Chinese Coromandel screens, named for the Indian coast where they were loaded onto ships for export, were ebonized folding lacquered panels often decorated in gold and frequently applied with specimen stones illustrating in-depth landscapes featuring figures at leisure in gardens and pavilions. In contrast, Japanese screens of the 19^th century were often decorated with naturalistic imagery in gold detail on silk panels.

Today modern screens can reconfigure a room, create a dramatic backdrop or establish an entirely different mood.  Whether they are relief carved, perforated wood panels or Modern molded plywood screens by Charles and Ray Eames, a screen can add an architectural element where one doesn’t exist. Perhaps it’s the versatility that makes screens so desirable.  You can rearrange them, transfer them to another room or fold them up for storage. Unlike the walls we live within, you can even take them with you.

Photo 2. Detail; a 19th Century Chinese Eight-Panel Folding Screen in the Kangxi style.

The above article was written by Martine M. White of Bernards Appraisal Associates, LLC, in Gladstone, New Jersey. Ms. White is a Senior Certified Appraiser of Antiques & Decorative Arts with the American Society of Appraisers and the Appraisers Association of America. Ms. White has been appraising personal property in the Metropolitan area since 1988. Martine and her associates specialize in appraising fine art, antique furniture, Oriental carpets, silver and jewelry. Martine can be reached at 908.234.1153.

Selecting an Appraiser – Archiving Your Assets

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American Society of Appraisers, Antiques, Appraisers Association of America, asset archive, auctioneer, certified appraiser, cigarette box, collections management, insurance scheduling, international society of appraisers, mysterious disappearance, personal property appraisers, personal property consultants, real estate appraisers, Russian Box, tsar of russia, Uniform Standards of Professional Practice, USPAP, worth

Whether you collect out of passion or just for investment purposes (which is somewhat rare) it is a good idea to find out the intrinsic worth of your collection. Especially before an unfortunate event such as ‘mysterious disappearance’ takes place. Without documentation, it may be near impossible to prove to your insurance agent that you really did own that rare nineteenth century 22 kt. cigarette box that was commissioned by the Tsar of Russia. Whether it had a troika engraving or not, without an appraisal it may not have even existed!

The first step is finding an appraiser you not only feel comfortable with – but one that is qualified and accredited with at least one of the three certifying appraisal organizations. These organizations, governed by the Appraisal Foundation in Washington, include the American Society of Appraisers, the Appraisers Association of America or the International Society of Appraisers. Unlike real estate appraisers, personal property appraisers are not required by law to be certified – therefore, consumer beware…anyone can hang their shingle out and say they are an appraiser! Also review the membership level of the appraiser you are considering hiring – an affiliated membership is not the same as one that is accredited.

Further, it is important to select an appraiser that is not a dealer or auctioneer. Working both sides of the fence all-too-often becomes a conflict of interest when it comes to appraising. An appraiser that is in the business of buying and selling, or consulting may have undisclosed interest in the property. It is in the client’s best interest to find an appraiser that can deliver an unbiased opinion of value – and a value that is substantiated and documented in a certified report that is written in conformance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Practice (USPAP). My best recommendation is to shop around – but do so with discretion – for not all appraisers are created equal!