Vintage Caithness Scotland Thistle Amethyst Etched Glass Vase – Signed 8"

A beautiful vintage Caithness Glass vase, handmade in Scotland and standing approximately 8" / 20 cm tall.

The vase has an elegant elongated form in amethyst-purple glass, with the colour deepest towards the lower section before becoming increasingly translucent towards the top. The front is decorated with an elegant etched Scottish thistle design, creating a soft frosted contrast against the coloured glass.

The substantial clear lower section and polished base give the vase a lovely weight and quality, while the slender shape makes it particularly attractive displayed either alone or with a small arrangement of flowers.

The underside carries an engraved Caithness signature and additional hand-engraved reference markings, which have been retained exactly as found and are shown clearly in the photographs.

Caithness Glass was founded at Wick in the far north of Scotland in 1961 by Robin Sinclair. Interestingly, vases, bowls and drinking glasses were actually the company's original products, predating the famous Caithness paperweights for which the company later became internationally known.

The thistle became a particularly appropriate motif for the Scottish glassworks, and Caithness subsequently produced a recognised Thistle range of engraved glassware.

A very close 8" example is documented as a signed Caithness amethyst glass vase with etched thistle decoration, supporting both the identification and the terminology used here.

Details

Maker: Caithness Glass
Origin: Scotland
Type: Decorative vase
Height: approximately 8" / 20 cm
Material: Art glass
Colour: Amethyst / purple graduating to clear
Decoration: Etched Scottish thistles
Base: Heavy clear glass foot
Markings: Engraved Caithness signature with additional reference markings
Finish: Glossy with frosted etched decoration
Period: Vintage

Condition

Good vintage condition with signs of previous ownership and display appropriate to age.

There are surface and base marks consistent with normal vintage use, visible particularly on the underside. These have deliberately been left visible in the photographs rather than polished or digitally removed.

Please examine all photographs carefully, including the signed base, as they form part of the condition description.