Ceramics & Glass
Art Deco Uranium Glass Vase and Bowl Set Attributed to Inwald or Walther, c. 1930s
Art Deco Uranium Glass Vase and Bowl Set Attributed to Inwald or Walther, c. 1930s
This luminous Art Deco uranium glass tableware set—comprising a pair of vertically fluted vases and a matching wide-rimmed centerpiece bowl—displays the crisp geometry and subtle opalescence that define the finest European Deco pressed glass. Molded in a pale celadon-green uranium glass that glows under UV light, each piece exhibits faceted and tiered forms reminiscent of modernist architecture, paired with a glossy, slightly translucent finish.
The design elements point to prominent Bohemian and German glasshouses working in the 1930s. The stylized paneling and sharply modeled base forms recall the work of Sklárna Inwald (Barolac line), especially the firm’s iconic Rosice and Barolac collections, which often featured frosted, fluted, and architectural motifs in uranium and pastel glass. The radial pedestal bases and textured stems echo similar works by Walther & Söhne, another leading German manufacturer known for Art Deco centerpieces and figurative bowls in pressed glass.
While unmarked, the quality and design sophistication also bear comparison to early Daum Nancy production from the interwar period, when the company briefly explored molded forms with a Deco vocabulary before returning to its more signature pâte-de-verre style.
A rare survivor in near-perfect condition, this set offers not only an elegant nod to 1930s European design but also a collectible example of functional Art Deco sculpture in glass.