Description
Hauntingly beautiful Three Horse sculpture ashtray in yellow satin Vaseline glass.
Designed by the infamous Bohemian glassmaker Heinrich Hoffmann. Hoffmann worked with Rene Lalique in France during the 1930’s. Hoffmann’s association with Lalique influenced his work greatly. He worked in France and later in the late 1930’s in the Czech Republic, called Czecho-Slovakia at the time. His works of detailed glass sculptures are highly sought after today.
In 1950 most of his 1920s-1930’s molds were sold and some items were reproduced by Czech makers. The reproductions were of nice quality but had distinct differences in finishing. Authentic Three Horse glass sculptures were hand-finished and polished. Circa estimated 1930s.
In good condition with a couple of sliver chips off the tails between two hoofs on two different horses. Look closely at the images and you can see the two shallow bump chips on the bottom of two hooves of the horses. There are tiny chiggers around the tail base also which would not come out in imaging. We experienced trouble imaging this item. It was due to a high metal content in the glass batch which is the reason for the pale yellow color and causes bright reflections. This is high quality glass.
The glass was immersed into hydrofluoric acid or subjected to hydrofluoric acid fumes to obtain the ghost-like semi-transparent satin finish. The hoofs of all the horses and the ash bowl rim are polished flat, without the satin effect. The ashtray rim is polished by hand and the edge is beveled (looks beautiful and helps prevent chips).
Weighs 1.2 pounds. Measures 5½” wide and 3″ tall. Four smoke rests are ¼” wide, ½” long.