Description:
This elegant Jugendstil vase was produced circa 1904 by Johann Loetz Witwe in Klostermühle, Bohemia. The vase is executed in a characteristic iridescent Phänomen Genre, which, based on its decorative treatment, can be attributed to Phänomen Genre 1/473.
The ground color is the glass type referred to by Loetz as “Elfenbein”, a soft ivory-colored glass that is UV-reactive. Over this pale ground, a refined iridescent decoration has been applied, composed of golden-yellow and greenish hues. The surface is characterized by a delicate, organic spotted pattern that gradually dissolves towards the upper section into the more subdued ivory ground. The combination of the pale glass, metallic iridescence, and subtle transitions in color gives the vase an exceptionally soft and elegant appearance.
The form itself is equally interesting. The vase has a full, slightly ovoid body that transitions into a short, constricted neck. While still hot, the rim was freely shaped into an undulating, multi-lobed opening. This form closely corresponds to the documented production number Series II 1363. In the Loetz documentation, this model is described as measuring approximately 206 mm in height, with an extended rim and five indentations. The documented model was produced, among other executions, in Candia Silberiris astartig and supplied to various commissioners in 1904–1905. The form and proportions of the present vase appear almost identical, allowing Series II 1363 to be considered a closely related production form. A definitive identification with this production number, however, would require further documentation.
The vase is a fine example of Loetz’s technical experimentation during the first years of the twentieth century. In particular, the combination of a relatively restrained form with a complex, light-responsive glass ground and iridescent surface decoration illustrates the sophistication with which the glassworks experimented with color, light, and surface effects during the height of its Jugendstil production.
Price: On request.
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