Loetz vase Astraea ca. 1900

At the turn of the century, Johann Loetz Witwe experimented with numerous variants of metallic iridescence, achieving an astonishing variety and creative complexity that truly set the company apart from other glassworks. The Astraea decor, created around 1900, is a particularly beautiful outcome of this experimentation.
A layer of silver-yellow powder is melted onto a Candia ground with an opaline underlay, bestowing upon the vase its remarkable iridescent effect. Honey-brown spots of varying sizes adorn the surface of the vase in an irregular arrangement.
The body of the vessel is bulbous at the base, while its upper wall is indented three times. The mouth is shaped like a trefoil alternately reaching downward, making the vase appear particularly organic, nearly flower-like in character. The unique shape of the vase is rounded off by three handles which are drawn from the glass mass at the bottom and melted on near the top – demonstrating the combination of beauty and functionality characteristic of the period around 1900. With ist organic shape, outstanding iridescence, and the signature “Loetz Austria” on the bottom, this vase is an especially sought-after collector’s item.