Steuben Tyrian Vase
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GUEST:
This vase has been in our family for over 100 years. It was given to my grandmother for her wedding gift, and I've held it and admired it since I was a little girl.
APPRAISER:
Do you know when your grandmother got married?
GUEST:
Probably around, I believe, like, 1918.
APPRAISER:
Good. (laughing) Because they didn't start making this until about 1916.
GUEST:
Oh!
APPRAISER:
Where did they live?
GUEST:
Omaha, Nebraska.
APPRAISER:
Oh, that is so perfect, because that just pulls all the little threads together. This is a vase that is from the Fredrick Carder era of Steuben.
GUEST:
Oh.
APPRAISER:
And it's called a Tyrian vase. Steuben Glass was based in Corning, New York.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
Fredrick Carder was the man who headed it up, and during his specific era of production, he made beautiful colored glass. And this line was called Tyrian, and "Tyrian" referred to, as far as we know, the imperial purple fabrics worn by the monarchs of ancient Tyre.
GUEST:
Oh.
APPRAISER:
It's interesting because I look at this and I don't see that much purple, but a lot of times, they tend to be a little more green.
GUEST:
Uh-huh.
APPRAISER:
I was hoping you would say Omaha, Nebraska, because on the bottom of your vase under where it's marked "Tyrian" is also this paper label.
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
And the paper label says "Whitmore" with the address in Omaha, Nebraska. H.P. Whitmore was a very famous store that handled the finest things that were being made in the art world at that particular time. I believe this was made around 1916, but some scholars say that it was made between 1916 and 1921. Do you have any idea of value?
GUEST:
I have no idea whatsoever.
APPRAISER:
Well, the smaller version of this sold for close to $8,000.
GUEST:
Oh, my goodness!
APPRAISER:
And this is a larger version.
GUEST:
Oh, my!
APPRAISER:
Did you use it?
GUEST:
(laughing): Yes, I did.
APPRAISER:
I don't want you to use it anymore. Do you promise me not to?
GUEST:
I promise.
APPRAISER:
Because it does disturb the surface if you leave water in there, and it has disturbed it a little bit.
GUEST:
All right.
APPRAISER:
Fortunately, it's not visible because it's so opaque, but I did see it, and so for people who collect Steuben, that does matter. I would say a retail value, given its condition, between $10,000 and $12,000.
GUEST:
Oh, my goodness! (laughing) Oh, I would have never guessed that whatsoever. Oh, my goodness.
APPRAISER:
Now, if it had been in perfect condition, I would have said $15,000.
GUEST:
Oh, my goodness.
Appraisal Details
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