Hi Alan,

We recently acquired this vase via telephone bid with an auction house thinking that it was possibly a no. 429 vase. It was listed as Imperial Free Hand and this is not an Imperial form or décor. We called for a condition report and were told it was in excellent condition. We have found little to go on as to sizes as none are listed on the club site or in Gardner for this form . If this was marked, likely it was with a paper label. Aside from questioning the consistency of the vining color toward the base, here is our dilemma; the pontil scar was ground and not polished.

We know that the club site states that this form was made by others. However, none of the other usual suspects would have left the pontil grinding unpolished either. The auctioneer must have been oblivious to the pontil condition and not very aware regarding this type of glass in general, as he went out of his way to address any concerns that might be important with this and the other items we were considering, including flaking around the scars on other pieces. We don’t believe that he was out to deceive.

We have two questions. First, did pieces sometimes make it out of the plant without the pontil grinding being polished and with all other things considered, Steuben made? Second, if not Steuben made, who were the others that produced this form?

The vase measures:

6-1/4″ tall

1-5/8″ diameter at the mouth

2-7/8″ diameter foot

The pontil scar is roughly the size of a quarter, just very slightly smaller.

Best Regards,

David Kingsley and Duane Moulton