Crackle Glass Lobster

Description

Enameled crackle glass crustacean vase by Ludwig Moser & Son of Karlsbad, Bohemia, c. 1880s. The aquamarine glass vessel is hand-decorated in enamel and depicts two species of lobster —Homarus Gammarus, the European lobster common in the eastern Atlantic, and Nephropsis Rosea, nicknamed the “rosy lobsterette” and found in the Caribbean. ⁣
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To achieve the crackle effect, the glassblower immersed the molten glass in cold water, which instantaneously cracked the glass. The cracked glass was then reheated and hand-blown or molded into its final form. Though shattered within, the finished product is smooth to the touch. The sharp facets within the frozen shatter make it shimmer and glow in the light.⁣
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At least a century ago a careless maid or curious cat made those illusory cracks a reality: the vase broke in half. It was made anew with an expert staple repair, with the real crack running along the side, sparing the fine enamel work on the front and back. Though the ironic crack is hard to notice without examination, the contrast of the old staples and delicate enamel work makes the fragility of the exquisite object palpable. ⁣
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Cracked by both design and happenstance, the vase is a work of art created by its maker and by chance.

Measurements

10 inches tall
6.75 inches wide
4.5 inches deep

Condition

Cracked down the sides with an expert old staple repair. The crack does not interfere with the great enamel work on the front and back.

Shipping

Free in the continental United States. If an international buyer, please contact me for a shipping estimate by clicking here.