Lötz vase painted by Franz Hofstoetter, €55,000 (£48,670) at Dr Fischer.
The company was founded in 1840, but only after Max von Spaun, the founder’s grandson, took over the running of the company in 1879, did it achieve international fame.
In the run-up to the 1900 world exhibition in Paris, Spaun commissioned numerous renowned designers with the production of innovative creations, incorporating the iridescent décor that was to make Lötz famous throughout the world.
Among the artists he employed was the painter Franz Hofstoetter who created several works for the Exposition Universelle, one of which became the star lot at Dr Fischer (28% buyer’s premium) in Heilbronn on March 17-18.
Like numerous pieces of Lötz glass in the sale, the 10in (25cm) high vase with multicoloured vertical threads and leaf-patterns came from the Salzburg collector Christian Clausen.
It was well documented and in recent decades had been shown at exhibitions at important museums, including the Corning Museum of Glass in the US.
International collectors pushed the price to €55,000 (£48,670), more than doubling the estimate in the process.
Moser design
Lötz vase designed by Koloman Moser for the Viennese company Bakalowits & Söhne, €33,000 (£29,200) at Metz.
Major interest emerged for another vase created by a famous designer that was sold by Metz (28% buyer’s premium) in Heidelberg on March 24-25.
The multi-talented Austrian designer Koloman Moser was also commissioned by Spaun to provide numerous pieces for the Paris exhibition of 1900.
Two years later he designed the 7in (19cm) high iridescent vase in Heidelberg which was produced by Lötz for the Viennese company Bakalowits & Söhne.
The most unusual feature of the vase was the three drop-like feet affixed to the side of the vessel.
It was offered without reserve and several Austrian dealers and collectors joined in the hectic bidding. They were, however, finally outpaced by a German collector whose closing bid was €33,000 (£29,200).
£1 = €1.13
