790 -- Deco era Attrib to Ausf 157 Loetz in clear glass with a dark aubergine striping

A number of months ago Kyle posted a Loetz three handled bowl with a decoration on it that was unusual to see on Loetz. It stuck in my mind. Recently I found a piece with that same decoration. But the vase it was on was more like Loetz AUSF 157 but in clear form which is unusual. I couldn't find the shape exactly in the shape books but it appears that the years this is probably from is not strongly represented in the shape catalogs. I think this is 1914 1915 and there are only a few pages for those years. It is however, Very close to another Ausf Shape that is also not found in the book but is found in a catalog page but only shown in a tiny form factor. In it's larger size it's not identical but there are shifts in shape as a piece is blown up. Other similarities in the glass: the Stripe is the same color and the neck and base are finished the same way. The Rim has a darker than the stripe layer of glass and the base has a polished pontil with the stripes fading away into the center. The catalog page also seems to show one or two clear pieces in the assortment for 1914. If you look at the pics one of the things that stands out as not being the same in the two pieces is the way the foot is finished. The little one has a very clear cinched in bottom waist. But, There is a cinched in bottom waste on the bigger one as well. it's just not as exaggerated. I have a link at the bottom of the page showing how shape changes slightly as a piece is scaled up. I think that would definitely translate here. the large piece is 13 inches tall and the little one is 5.5 inches tall. I Strongly think this is a clear form factor for ausf 157 but it may not be. The only other company I am aware of that made striped glass with this consistency and quality is Steuben and I don't think it was something they made a lot of. Kyles piece is indicated to be a shape made for Bawo and dotter in that size. We know that the decoration like this was often put on by a third party and from what I can find it is indeed a decoration that can be associated with Bawo and Dotter. When Looking at my American art nouveau book by Revi, I found a piece under Honesdale with this same Pattern, It's called Versailles. One of the sales representatives from B&D was sent over to America in 1890. His name was Prosch. He was employed by B and D til 1900 when he joined up with Dorflinger to start the Honesdale Decorating rooms. but I assume kept up a strong working relationship with B and D as this pattern is associated with B and D from 1915 as well as Dorflinger from the same time period. Interestingly Bawo and Dotter were in bankruptcy at the beginning of the war due to not being able to conduct business with the Enemy. Bawo and Dotter had a refinery in Karlsbad, a glasshutte in Novy Bor as well as a refinery and other various holdings in the area. They bought a lot from Loetz. They worked with porcelain and glass. They also had a porcelain refinery in Limoges. They were still exporting from the region and buying glass from the region, Etc... but their headquarters was in Canada and they had offices in New York. So because of the war acts they were not allowed to give any money to the enemy. (anyone in their bohemian offices) It was noted in the pottery and glass journal that at this same time they were going thru bankruptcy. Trusted employees were splintering off and forming new companies with B and D clients and using patterns that were owned by B and D. As a side note, Honesdale Decorating company was also said to be made up largely of Bohemian immigrants according to Revi. Which explains why so much of the Honesdale product really looks Bohemian. So in conclusion. I really think this is a variant of Ausf 157 with a Bawo and Dotter decor. The glass is high quality no bubbles finished with a regular strip pattern and a rim of glass around the rim in a shape that very well looks like it might be scaled up from a smaller shape that is known. (although I admit, I am not sure of that) But I do think that considering the book calls Kyles piece a Bawo and Dotter design and This same design can be found on Honesdale pieces from the same era and they had a strong relationship with Honesdale as well.. that we can be pretty sure that this is indeed Bawo and Dotter. (or Honesdale), From that knowing that Bawo and Dotter did buy a lot from Loetz and this has very very similar qualities, in actual material quality and stylistic quality.. that an attribution to Loetz shouldn't be that much of a jump. Refs: Loetz Series II American Art Nouveau glass Revi Loetz bohemian glass 1880-1940 Pottery Glass and Brass Salesmen: pg 11 Feb 18 1915 and here is Kyles example : http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/69220-large-green-3-footed-vase-loetz Here is a link to a photo from Harrach that shows how a piece can subtly change shape as it's scaled up. https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/i8W-AxqpKpliByz-IUVQmviepaC6HmOqHRqF2S98L-U?feat=directlink I welcome discussion on this. This piece has been fun to research because Bawo and Dotter turned out to be very interesting. But I realize I haven't actually found absolutely proof of anything other than that Bawo and Dotter had a relationship to Honesdale and that they bought glass from Loetz and that the decor on this piece is on both Bawo and Dotter pieces as well as Honesdale. There have been a lot of Mystery glass pieces that have turned up from Tischer and a similar mark to Tischers with the Karlsbad name on them. Bawo and Dotter are responsible for some of those marks. I don't know if they were linked to Tischer or not. But there was at least one other refiner in Karlsbad that is documented now other than Moser.

Updated: 23 Apr 2019