Antique Warszawa WMF Silver Plated Art Nouveau Large Green Glass Claret Jug (Code 1444)

If you are looking for Art Nouveau it doesn't come much more unequivocal than this - sinuous flowing lines, organic forms, and a maiden in a flowing dress wrapped around a tapered green glass body.  It is intended as a claret jug although the scale is much larger than average and it would probably suit white wine better given the glass colour.  It was made around 1906 in the WMF facility in Warszawa, Poland, WMF also made claret jugs at the main factory in Germany which were smaller and more restrained - clearly restraint wasn't a consideration on the Warsawa design.

The metal outer is thick copper which is pressed, cut and hand worked into the frame you see, and this is then silver plated.  The inner liner is green glass which is fixed at the top in a collar with plaster (as a normal claret jug is produced) and has further metal stays at the base for safety.  It was intended for use surprisingly, and is formed with the plaster seal on the outside of the glass join with the collar.

It is marked (very faintly) 'Warszawa' to the underside of the base on the ring and it also has a number 3 impressed to one of the foot lugs.  It has been a long time since I have been able to acquire one of these, they have become so sought after that they almost seem to have vanished from the market.  They were never made in large numbers so the opportunity to purchase one will continue to diminish over time.

 

Normal aging to the metal and some wear through the silver plate to the copper below at the high points which is expected.  Minor knocks to the protective metal skirt around the base.  Glass intact and hinge/lid working fine.  A spectacular item.



Approx Dimensions


Height: 37 cm ( 14 1/2 inch )

Width: 15.5 cm ( 6 inch ) across base

Weight: 2060 grams (before packing)



Stock Code:  1444  Oc18-5