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Not currently on display at the V&A

Phenomenon

Vase
1900 (made), 1899 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Johann Loetz Witwe Glassworks (manufacturer)
Spaun, Max Ritter Von (designer)
Place of origin
Klostermühle (made)

Cased lustrous glass with combed lustred threads, Phänonmen or Fenomèn type


Object details

Categories
Glass
Containers
SCRAN
Object type
Vase
Titles
  • Phenomenon
  • Phänomen (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Iridised glass
Glass
Brief description
Vase, Bohemia (Klostermühle), possibly designed by Max, Ritter von Spaun, at Johann Lötz Witwe, 1899-1900
Physical description
Cased lustrous glass with combed lustred threads, Phänonmen or Fenomèn type
Dimensions
  • Maximum width: 20.5cm
Style
19TH CONT
Marks and inscriptions
crossed arrows and four Xs incised (Makers's mark)
Gallery label
  • Label for 'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900', Gallery 101, de-canted March 2017: '11 Vase of Iridescent Glass 1899-1900 Shown at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1900 Loetz-Witwe Glassworks combined a successful commercial approach with an ambitions artistic policy. It marketed its wares widley, and patented a process of fusing glass rods onto a monochrome surface. This technique created a patterned, iridescent finish reminiscent of seashells or excavated Roman glassware. Bohemia, Klöstermühle (now Klásterský Mlýn, Hofstätter; manufactured by Johann Loetz-Witwe Glassworks Lustrous glass, cased, with combed lustred threads ('Phänomen' range) Bought at the exhibition Museum no. 1296-1900'(22/04/2017)
  • Shown in the international exhibition, Paris, 1900, at which Lötz was awarded a Grand Prize. Lötz began producing iridescent glass, copying Tiffany, shortly after 1890. By 1900 they had evolved their own style and technique, imitating the lustrous effects seen on excavated glass or seashells. They developed and patented a method of fusing prefabricated glass rods onto a monochrome surface and then ornamented this by combing wavy patterns, marvering etc. The new range was given the name 'Phänomen' glass.
  • VASE 1296-1900 'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900' This vase is one of the twenty items purchased from J. Lötz Witwe after their inclusion in the Paris 1900 Exhibition. From 1898 to 1914 a number of artist collaborated with the factory in what is now Klástersky Mlýn, Czechoslovakia. At first these were mostly local artist working in the Art Nouveau style in which the factory successfully specialised, perfecting the use of silver, copper, mica and other materials to achieve a brilliantly iridescent finish. After the turn of the century, artist were co-opted from Austria, particularly from the Wiener Werkstätte.(1987-2006)
Bibliographic reference
Glass Review 6/84,4/85,; Arwas as usual; Ricke etc Lötz 2 vols
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
1296-1900

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Record createdDecember 13, 1997
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O232/phenomenon-vase-spaun-max-ritter/
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