Height: 19,5 cm Weight: 720 grams Condition: minor age-related wear consistent with age and production Loetz Cobalt Blue “Papillon” Art Nouveau Iridescent Glass Vase, c. 1890 - 1900 Exceptional Loetz Art Nouveau art glass vase in the highly desirable Cobalt Blue “Papillon” décor, dating to the late 19th / early 20th century. The vase shows a vivid cobalt blue ground with a shimmering, iridescent surface and a distinctive Papillon patterning that shifts beautifully between bright turquoise, violet and deep sapphire tones depending on the light. The form is elegant and sculptural: a rounded, bulbous body with a tall cylindrical neck, finished with two applied scroll handles in deep cobalt glass with subtle metallic lustre. Loetz was the premier Bohemian art glass manufacturer during the Art Nouveau period (circa 1890 - 1920). Founded in 1840 in what is now the Czech Republic, the firm became internationally renowned for innovative surface effects, organic forms and rich colour. Loetz received major awards at international exhibitions, including top recognition at the Paris World Exhibition in 1900.