Webb Burmese "hand-painted in the manner of Jules Barbe"

Yes, they are, sorta.......and, I think it is a shame.

Do you think that these are painted after manufacture?

Based on the photos, I certainly do.


Jim

When you put it up against a typical example, the detail is not there, the leaves are the wrong shape, the colors are wrong, the painted design is limited to one side, etc...

Either bidders don't know the difference or they don't care. I emailed the seller a while ago to ask about the painting, but didn't receive an answer.

Just got an answer from the seller. He says that he put them under a scope and asked a dealer friend who specializes in burmese glass and they both decided that they were authentic. Go figure. He said he picked them up from a house sale.

I think that both the burmese glass and the paint is authentic. Yes it is real burmese glass, and yes it has real paint on it, but I don't think that the paint is original to the piece.

I agree with you, but someone overpaid for them.

Well, as with most things, there is a couple ways to look at it. Assuming the paint can be removed, the buyer got four undecorated Webb Burmese cabinet vases for about $170 each. I think a fair market value. On the other hand, if they are expecting to resell them as Webb decorated pieces, it could be a problem for them.

Considering that the bidding did not go way "over the top" I think most experienced collectors recognized them for what they are. Had they been four authentic decorated Webb vases, I would have expected the bidding to go considerably higher.

What I find most disturbing is the seller's comment "I asked a dealer friend who specializes in burmese glass and they both decided that they were authentic." I think that is the real tragedy.........if that actually occured.

Jim.