Fish Vase Fake - Blue Fish Vase- Jain Glass - Indian Carnival Glass - Jain Reproductions

The Carnival Glass of India, Part 6

 

Reproduction Alert:
"Jain Glass" Cobalt Blue Fish Vases

by curculiosglass


 

 An authentic Jain Fish vase
photos by ponypainter

            This is Part V of a 6-part guide on Indian carnival glass.  This guide section features photographs of the first known reproduction of Indian carnival glass:  a cobalt-blue Fish vase.   This guide was made possible by the many E-Bayers who joined together to contribute photographs to this project.   Please leave feedback by clicking the button at the bottom of the page.

            Buyers take note:  Listings advertised in the right-hand margin of this glossary under the heading "Items from E-Bay Sellers" are run by E-Bay and not by this glossary, and are not endorsed by this glossary as offering authentic glassware.  Fradulent cobalt-glass Fish vase reproductions frequently crop up in such advertised listings.
 

Reproduction Alert

  

A cobalt-blue glass reproduction
of a Jain Fish vase

          The above photograph was sent to us by an E-Bayer:  this is the first example of a Jain glass reproduction that we've seen.  The fake "Fish vase" is intended to resemble Indian carnival glass vases made by the Jain Glass Works of Firozabad, India in the 1930's.  The knock-off is made of cobalt-blue glass and is approximately  9 1/2  to 10 inches tall.  The mold strike and detail work on the vase are of poor quality.  Unlike true Jain carnival glass, the vase is not iridescent. 

          Such cobalt blue Fish vase fakes recently have surfaced on E-Bay.  In one listing, they were offered in pairs for a high price, as part of a Buy-It-Now sale.  The vases were described in the listing's title as "Jain" glass by a company whose precise location in the United States was not given.  Although the seller expressly called the vases "Jain" glass, the listing also contained the kind of authenticity disclaimer strictly forbidden by E-Bay (probably Jain but maybe not).   Such listings, unfortunately, might well recur.    

         Other cobalt-blue reproductions of American carnival patterns such as Fenton's Stag & Holly have appeared on E-Bay in the past.  Such reproductions have been attributed to a Chinese company known as AA Importing.  A picture of a true Jain Fish vase is shown at page top of this guide.  The vase features a catfish-like creature wrapped clockwise (from bottom to stop) around the vase body.  The fish is ornately embellished with scales, a ribbed tail, and a head with ringed eyes.  Vases featuring fish that curl counterclockwise are known as the Fish Variant vase.  A Fish Variant vase is featured below:

     

An Authentic Jain Glass Works Fish Variant vase:
on the variant, the fish wraps counterclockwise around the vase.

photo courtesy of *treasurehunter*

           Notably, Jain Glass Works never issued carnival glass in cobalt blue; nor did any other known Indian carnival glass maker.  Documented Indian carnival glass is found only in iridescent marigold; a pale iridescent aqua called "Jain  blue"; and, very rarely, in iridescent amethyst and red.  Fish vases generally occur with one of two colorings:   in marigold (as shown immediately above), and in marigold-over-frosted glass (as shown at page top).  A rare amethyst-over-frosted Fish Variant vase appeared on E-Bay in January, 2008.  Additional photographs and information on Jain's Fish vase are available in Part 3 of our guide. 

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To continue to another part of this guide, click one of the links below:

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1. General Information on Jain            2. Goa-style Vases              3. Hand & Animal Vases     

       4. Bulbous (Tear-shaped) Vases              5. Etched Vases and Other Vases          6. Cobalt-blue Fish Vase Fakes    

           7. New Pitcher Patterns              8. New Tumbler Patterns - A              9. New Tumbler Patterns - B

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            Many thanks to E-Bayers ponypainter and *treasurehunter*  for generously contributing photographs to this guide.   Rights to all photos belong to the photographers, and pictures should not be used without their permission.  Text is (c) 2007 curculiosglass, all rights reserved.  To locate any E-Bayer whose name is mentioned here, or to visit his or her store, simply click on "SITE MAP" on the bottom of your screen, and then click on "Feedback Forum" on the right top corner of the screen that next appears.  Type or copy the E-Bayer's name into the search blank.  To see our other guides on glass, click on GUIDE INDEX.  If you found this guide helpful, please leave feedback by clicking the button below.  This makes the guide easier for other E-Bayers to find.  Thanks.