WMF MYRA HANDCRAFTED ART GLASS BASKETS x 2 (PAIR) GERMANY Karl Wiedmann STUNNING in the SUN!!

WMF MYRA GLASS

Made in Germany. No marks as consistent with these pieces 

It takes 4 working days to make each piece.  The glass gets its name from a site in Asia where archaeologists discovered ancient glass with a natural iridescence.  WMF had to run double shifts to keep up with the demand for this glass. Production ceased in 1939 resumes in 1948 and was finally discontinued in 1954.

Dimension of basket 1:

Height including handle approximately 116mm  = Length approximately 105mm = Width handle to handle approximately 90mm 

Dimension of basket 2:

Height including handle approximately  110mm = Length approximately 105mm = Width handle to handle approximately 94mm

 WMF MYRA glassware

Myra is the name given to the iridized glass produced by WMF from 1926. Based on the same techniques used by Tiffany and Loetz, the glassmaker Karl Wiedmann brought it to the production stage after experimentation at the Zwiesel glass school.  The glass is a crystal formulated with silver nitrate instead of lead. The silver gives the glass a rich translucent amber colour, but more importantly, it comes to the surface when reduced in the oven.  At the moment when the glass is covered in a thin layer of silver it is etched with iridescent metal salts, resulting in a bluish green golden lustre with a matt finish. As an additional decorative element, some vases were blown out to achieve a crackled surface. When lit from behind, all Myra glass will show a dark honey colour, which is a good method for their identification.  Around 1935 further experiments were made with surface finishes. Instead of iridescent salts, silver nitrate or copper oxide were used for the finish. Silver nitrate gave a greenish iridescence, while copper oxide produced a bright red opaque finish with a golden shine. When this surface was partly brushed off, the silver etched underlying layer came to light and produced metallic blue clouding. 

 CONDITION:   Overall very good condition. No damage.