Antique Victorian glass basket or bowl. Made in Bohemia, circa 1905 in the Hosch glass works.
Bought from the estate and collection of R & D Truitt, it was catalogued as Loetz by Marie Kirscher, but it can be clearly seen in Truitts book which shows catalogues from the Hosch Company, on page 77.
Measurements:
Height 3 3/8 inch and length is 8 1/2inches.
Description:
A striking example of late Victorian glass artistry. This exquisite bowl or basket is rectangular with wide, open handles at either end. Ruffled, turned over rims, fall like petals of a flower. Exceptional colour: Its surface radiates a soft, opalescent glow, shimmering in hues of pearly amethyst and iridescent lavender—an extraordinary color treatment rarely seen even among Bohemian glass.
Marks and Maker:
Script signature LOETZ AUSTRIA. According to Robert Truitt, one of the most famous Bohemian glass specialists, the dish was made by Hosch and it is illustrated in his book on the subject with this attribution.
Condition:
Very good condition. No chips/cracks/damage of any sort. Please see enlarged 'photos and don't hesitate to ask questions which will do our best to answer.
The Story:
there is a lot of grey area in the subject of antique Bohemian glass. Bohemian glass production of this era was a fluid and complex world. Workers moved from one factory to another; owners intermarried. Most items were not signed.
While marked Loetz, the previous owner of this dish attributed it to Hosch. Someone else suggested Kralik. Though absolute certainty is elusive, the artistry and rarity of this piece are beyond dispute. In decades of handling antique glass, we've rarely encountered such an enchanting, pearlescent finish.
