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How Can I Tell If My Vase Is Okra Glass?

Okra Glass is a manufacturer of glass giftware, primarily vases, paperweights and perfume bottles. Founded in 1979 and based in Stourbridge in the West Midlands --- one of Great Britain's long-established glass-making centers --- Okra combines traditional, hands-on glassblowing techniques with experiments in iridescent finishes and coloring techniques. Its pieces are easily recognizable by their distinctive appearance and clear base markings.

Instructions

- 1
  Check to see whether the piece has an appropriate surface decoration. Okra uses a palette of rich, deep colors combined with iridescent effects and sometimes muted tones --- think of the sorts of colors and tones you might encounter in a peacock feather. Anything decorated in bright primary colors is unlikely to have been made by Okra.
- 2
  Look within the surface decoration for visual motifs relating to nature --- flowers, leaves, evocations of water and pond life.
- 3
  Determine whether the overall shape is typical of Okra Glass. Okra pieces draw on the "organic" shapes of nature and are full of twists and curves. Pieces with an angular, urban feel are probably the work of another firm.
- 4
  Look on the base for the signature Okra mark: Okra pieces have detailed marks that incorporate the word "Okra" and a model number, as well as sometimes a date and the name of the individual artist.

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