Featured Mystery Opalescent Fish Vase

Greetings. I have been searching for some time as to the maker of my opalescent fish vase. Mostly dead ends. It is not a Fenton piece. Any ideas?

 

If you could photograph this on a white background we could see it better, in order to help you

 

Why do you not think it is Fenton, as it looks just like the Atlantis pattern, are there some features which are different?

 

The shape of the vase is similar to something Fenton would do. However, Fenton doesn't grind the bottoms of their glass.

The shape is throwing me off.
I first thought Verlys, or Sabino, but can't find that shape.

 

These fish do look similar to Verlys https://www.liveauctioneers.com/ite...alescent-glass-fish-bowl-deep-relief-design-o

 

Really pretty, please submit a photograph on a white background.
More research will be in order please, @trishp
...

EDITED to ask how big is this please? It may be fenton or sabino.

 

And natural light, it looks like you took it inside, is that why it is so yellow?

 

Hello. Many years ago I was in touch with Ferrill Rice. She contacted Frank Fenton who said it was not his (different base & no Fenton logo). I've decided it's time to resurrect my quest ;-) Here are some better photos. It measures
7 3/8"D x 6 3/8"H.

 

Hmm, I think it is so close to the Fenton Atlantis vase that it must be a copy/knockoff surely if it isn't Fenton. Or did it have a chipped or wobbly base and someone had it ground flat?

 

Hmm. I don't think the bottom has been ground flat. My vase is almost an inch wider at the top, with a flare. Also, the base on mine goes straight down whereas the Atlantis base is rounded. I just unearthed and reread the letter from Ferill Rice again, and in it she states that Fenton bought this mould from U.S. Glass in 1969; but that she never, ever saw a piece of U.S. glass in this pattern.

 

Lalique would make more than one shape from the same mould, eg a coupe and plate by manual working after moulding. Same possibility here, perhaps a trial piece, or for exhibition then.

 

does look like the Verlys 'Les Poisson' line; have seen it noted by DDoty and others that Fenton used a modified mold from Verlys. Fenton has similar flared form most often noted as a whimsey made in carnival and other colors.

Atlantis (ddoty.com)

atlantis whimsey - page 1 | WorthPoint

Verlys 1934 (glas-musterbuch.de)

I am aware of a US Glass pattern with fish but it does not match this vase

 

I've got about at least a dozen of these puppies made by Fenton and I believe they are all marked as such (they're in a cabinet and I'd need to do some gymnastics to get them all out to check). All mine are straight sided - the flared examples are much harder to find. Most of the Verlys molds that Fenton used were American Verlys. Many of these molds are shown in Carole and Wayne McPeek's Verlys of America book but a fish pattern is not among them. The McPeek's book may not be inclusive. I've either got examples of most of the Fenton versions of the American Verlys molds in my collection or have sold them. I believe all were signed with the Fenton oval mark. I'm not sure if Fenton also used Verlys of France molds although the Verlys of France and the American Verlys did at least share some designs/molds (Gems and the Duck Tray for example are shown in both the French and American catalogs. The only Poissons piece in the American Verlys catalog is a double handled bowl that does not show in Fenton's lines. I can post a picture of that bowl if anyone would find it helpful). My suspicion is that Fenton made all new molds for their Atlantis pattern. The fairy lamp would be the most obvious example of a form not known in either French or American Veryls.

The condensed version is: I checked my Verlys books and couldn't find a fish vase represented in either the American or the French books. The closest pattern is the Les Poisson line that Tallcakes but there is no vase shown. I do agree that the vase above is not Fenton.

 

Now in better lighting, it's not Sabino. Appears to be signed.
Can any enlargements be taken of this writing?

 

The bottom does have scratches on it. But, I included a photo of this area because of exactly what you mention antidiem. It looks like there might be some type of etching/script. I did try looking at it through a loupe, but couldn't discern it. Don't know if this has any relevance--but it's quite weighty, too: 3 lb 6.3 oz

 

Hm. I wonder if it's Barolac.

 

Duncan Miller also had this in the Sculptured line; anyone with copy of their journal?

Duncan Glass Sculptured pattern blue opalescent vase | #2108725987 (worthpoint.com)

Duncan & Miller SCULPTURED Line TROPICAL FISH Vase | #2067916144 (worthpoint.com)

Glass Etch and Pattern Gallery (chataboutdg.com)

 

wOw.....except for size variation, the Duncan version looks pretty close...

 

I actually thought Duncan when I saw that scalloped opalescent vase! Great find!

 

Update: Per Duncan Glass Museum: My Tropical Fish #128 Sculptured Line/Cape Cod Blue vase was designed by Robert May circa 1943.