Monday, April 16, 2012

Michael Krumme of Los Angeles continues the discussion of damaged glass.

I would agree with Mr. Fauster in general. A collector who insists on flawless, never-used pieces will miss out on owning some wonderful things, which he or she may never have another opportunity to acquire.

The main issue of course is the nexus of price to condition. Far too many sellers (particularly the amateur and/or generalist types) price their damaged wares at the same level as other (usually experienced or specialist) sellers would price the same piece in good condition. Naturally, this is self-correcting, in that damaged pieces priced as if they were undamaged generally do not sell. Eventually most sellers will get the message.

However, I would appreciate hearing more about “heat checks.” I have heard this term, but honestly, I don’t absolutely know what it means. I have surmised that it (generally) means a crack in the glass, usually where a handle is applied.

However, I would like to point out that if collectors accept pieces with these so-called “heat checks,” then uneducated and/or wily sellers are likely to call cracking of any kind a heat check, and price the subject piece as if it had no such damage. Let’s face it, when it comes to pieces with applied handles, there are two kinds: those with cracks where the handle was applied, and those without. Sorry, but I just don’t buy pieces that have such damage — whether the cracking is in the body of the piece, or whether the crack is in the applied handle.

The key issue to me is, how can one accurately and definitively discern between a piece of glass with a so-called “heat check” and one that has a crack in the body that was caused by impact, temperature changes, or some other cause occurring “after market”?

I put inclusions, bubbles, flaws, and factory chips (e.g., those which have been decorated or satinized over at the factory, indicating that they were there when the piece was decorated or satinized) in a COMPLETELY different category than so-called “heat checks.” I consider the former to be something inherent in glassmaking, and generally acceptable if not obtrusive. Examples of the latter would be large or prominent inclusions; misshapenness; off-coloration; or bubbles which are open to the surface of the glass.

I think that a key question is, do we know whether glass factories gave pieces with “heat checks” a pass during sorting and inspection, or were they sold as seconds, or were they sent back to be used as cullet?

Looking forward to hearing others’ input!

Michael

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2012 Carder Steuben Club annual Symposium will be held at The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY from September 20-22, 2012.