Cobalt Blue Glass Bud Vase

This is a hand-blown or mold-blown cobalt blue glass vase, featuring a classic 'baluster' or 'ginger jar' silhouette with a wide, flared rim and a cinched neck leading into a bulbous body. The color is a deep, rich translucent cobalt blue, which is a characteristic achieved by adding cobalt oxide to the glass melt. The piece exhibits a smooth, glossy finish that catches highlights, suggesting a mid-to-late 20th-century manufacture, likely between the 1960s and 1980s. The construction shows a thick-walled glass base for stability. Notable features include subtle optical reflections within the glass structure. Regarding condition, the vase appears to be in excellent aesthetic shape with no visible chips, cracks, or heavy scouring, though minor 'flea bites' or shelf wear on the bottom surface would be expected for an item of this age. The craftsmanship reflects a mass-produced but high-quality decorative style common in European and American glassware companies like Blenko or Hazel-Atlas, though no specific maker's marks are visible in the photograph. Its vibrant color and timeless form make it a staple of mid-century modern or eclectic home decor.

I have examined the provided images of this cobalt blue glass bud vase. The piece exhibits a classic mid-century aesthetic, characterized by a deep, consistent cobalt hue and a well-proportioned baluster form. Upon visual inspection, the condition appears excellent; the glass retains a high luster with no evident chips or internal 'sick glass' clouding. The presence of shelf wear on the base is consistent with a 20th-century decorative object. The market for mid-century cobalt glass remains steady due to its high appeal in ‘Mid-Century Modern’ (MCM) interior design. However, as this piece lacks a maker’s mark (such as Blenko, Viking, or Whitefriars), it is categorized as 'attribution-only' glassware. Comparables for unsigned 8-10 inch cobalt vases in similar condition typically realize $30 to $80 at auction or vintage retail settings. The value is driven by the aesthetic quality of the color rather than the rarity of the form. A significant factor impacting value is the lack of a pontil mark or signature, which suggests mold-blown mass production rather than artisanal free-blown craftsmanship. Limitations: Authentication based on photographs cannot definitively determine the presence of internal stress fractures or precise age. To confirm a specific manufacturer or higher valuation, an in-person inspection of the base (to check for acid-etched marks or specific wear patterns) and provenance documentation would be required. Scientific analysis of the glass composition could further pinpoint the factory of origin but is generally not cost-effective for items in this price bracket.