A little-known thread decoration from the Schliersee Glassworks

Very little is known about the Schliersee glassworks in the Bavarian Forest. From 1901 to 1914, it was part of the “United Bavarian Crystal Glassworks” along with the Regenhütte crystal glass factory. While the larger Regenhütte remained in operation until the 1980s, the Schliersee glassworks ceased operations as early as 1914. Its Art Nouveau production is characterized by iridescent vases. Some of the glassware now attributed to the Schliersee factory is of high quality, while other products were intended for the less affluent market. What they all have in common is their rarity. Today, they are among the rarest examples of Art Nouveau glass.
We owe it to Christiane Sellner for publishing a few sample drawings from Schliersee (Gläserner Jugendstil aus Bayern, 1992), which are likely the only original documents from the glassworks that have survived. By comparing shapes and decorations, it is now possible to attribute even undocumented pieces to the Schliersee Glassworks. One example of this is iridescent, ribbed vases made of opaque white glass, partially surrounded by brownish, twisted threads. The decoration is unmistakable in its style. I first became aware of this type of glass through two vases displayed in the showcase dedicated to Schliersee products at the Passau Glass Museum. I missed my first chance to acquire such a piece back in 2003. At that time, the vases were still attributed to the Poschinger Buchenau Glassworks. Since then, a few of these special Art Nouveau glass pieces have appeared on the market. A collector friend of mine in the neighborhood was even lucky enough to acquire three of these Schliersee vases.
The spun threads have fused into multicolored bands, some forming feather-like patterns and others twisted into spirals. The colors used are brown, yellow, pink, and a light blue. The opaque white underlayer and the tight ribs are characteristic of all these glasses. The pontil is always neatly polished.

Image 1: Vase with an unusual shape, pattern no. 289, height 14 cm
Image 2: Vase with an unknown production number, height 21.5 cm
Image 3: Three vases from the Schliersee Glasfabrik, collection of a friend, heights ranging from 8.5 cm to 33 cm
Image 4: The shape of the bowl-shaped vase shown in Image 3 can be found on the Schliersee pattern sheet under number 275.