RZM Fine Arts and Antiques Inc: Ask the Appraiser

Hello. We recently saw you at the Pascack Historical Society. You were giving a very informative discussion relating to art nouveau period glass. You mentioned several glass makers during that time period. Well I went home and started digging around our attic and there it was. All wrapped up in a newspaper dated 1966! The vase in the pictures I’m sending to you was the pride and joy of my mother. She said she had gotten it from her grandmother. She also told me the name of it but it has been so many years I can’t remember. How about it Jon? Do you know anything about this particular vase? Everyone loved your antiques appraisal event this past weekend. We hope you do another show soon.

Irene

New Milford

Irene, I’m gratified you enjoyed the Antiques Appraisal Fair at the Pascack Historical Society. We conduct many of these events in the tri-state area throughout the year. As for your beautiful vase, it was produced in 1917 by the Quezal Art Glass and Decorating Company. This attractive and distinctive line of art glass was appropriately named “The Glass That Looks Like Pottery.” The subtle color blending and soft finish of the glass has all the rich color tones of the finest contemporary art pottery produced in America. For the record, in 1919 the name of this line was changed to “Innovation.” This is the name most collectors will recognize today. A brief word about Quezal Art Glass. Some of the most beautiful and alluring glass was produced by this company. Quezal art glass ranks right alongside the iridescent glass of Louis Comfort Tiffany and Frederick Carder. The Quezal Art Glass and Decorating Company was started over a century ago in 1902, in Mespeth, Queens New York. The owner Martin Bach was hired by Louis Comfort Tiffany as the latter’s glass chemist or batch mixer at the newly established Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, in Corona, Queens. After several years Bach left Tiffany and started his own glass works. He named his company after one of the world’s most beautiful birds, the elusive quetzal, which lives among the treetops of the tropical forests of Central America. Now for the best part of the story. The current value of your beautiful vase is $1500 USD. Assuming it has remained in excellent condition. No chips, cracks or restoration. Today’s astute collectors increasingly appreciate the resplendent glass created by skilled artisans during the art nouveau period. Thank you for allowing me to appraise this wonderful item.