Laced Vase

I hope I am on the right section for glass. I temporarily have this unusual looking vase that I am currently trying to purchase from a friend, but she has made it quite clear that she wants it back. Any ideas of the maker. I think it might be Murano but that is only by looking at the base area. My friend had purchased the vase from a fete 10 years ago. I searched under lace glass vases but the lace work I have seen is very small compared to this. I am also curious as to how it was actually made and what contents were used to create the blood red effect. I hope you can help me with this. The vase is 11 1/2" tall.


[img][/img]

[img][/img]

[img][/img]

[img][/img]

Most probably modern Chinese, if you pop into TKMax you may find similar for sale. Sorry

Chinese? That is nice to know. The Chinese do execeptionally well when it comes to product design.

For the 'lace' parts it uses a technique employed in very old Venetian glass, often to a much finer, more sculptural, effect. I seem to remember that it's called doppio traforo (double tunnel), but I might be wrong.

They will have been formed by hand when semi-molten, quickly applying and forming the glass as it cools..

Red in glass is typically created with gold or selenium - in this case probably selenium.

Thanx for your help. I looked up the information as I found it of interest in trying to determine were this vase might of been made. Doppio Traforo I can confirm, as meaning double tunnel I am not sure what the double is intended for in the word, but traforo means drilling, piercing and tunneling. I have since found out that Selenium is a none metal chemical element, that was disovered by Jons Berzelious in 1817 whilst carrying out various experiments. Selene meaning moon. Selenium can be found in animals and plants but also can be man made. It is a toxic substance, which leads me onto my first question. Can Selinium be used in glass drinking vessels?
You said that the lace work is more finer and sculptural in old venetian glass, which leads to my second question. The vase posted, is there any possibility that this vase could be Italian, even without the fine detail. I only ask this, due to the introduction of colouring substance used during the making, which is normally part of an Italian Process during the making and the uncertainty by one of the replies.

I have looked at some of the vases found in TXMax, but currently cannot find one silimar to the one I have posted. This leads me to my next question. Are the Chinese familiar with this type of technique? If they are, then there is every possibility as Davee has mentioned.

It is a toxic substance, which leads me onto my first question. Can Selinium be used in glass drinking vessels?

Yes. It's perfectly safe because it's fixed in the silicon crystal lattice. (Cut glass has the metal Lead in it. Another toxic substance in some forms, but not when mixed with glass).

It's almost certainly Chinese or of similar Far East production. The Chinese are aware of most glass techniques, as they've made a very good living out of emulating international styles in glass for several decades.

As for selenium, or more properly, sodium selenate in drinking glasses...

Lots of ostensibly dangerous and toxic chemicals are used in producing domestic glass - like salts and oxides of uranium, lead, arsenic, etc - but in such diffuse quantities that are fixed in the glass mass that they're effectively harmless for general use.

The only small danger is if you keep alcohols in them for a very long time - several months - chemicals can leech from the glass into the contents. This is why most new lead crystal decanters will warn that they're not for long term storage.

The thing to beware of is decoration made from brightly coloured surface emanels, as they often have toxic chemicals that can leach out into food. Modern day pieces should be marked 'not for food use'.

I totally agree NaomiM. We too have made a good living out of emulating or employing highly skilled workers from overseas Nic. That is the way of life and some of these highly skilled workers are underpaid, when you look at what they are capable of making with limited resourses and tools. I was not aware about the crystal decanters though. I will definately take note of that. Thanx!