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Comparable Sales Report
Bohemian Tango Glass Vase, c.1920s
Czechoslovakia (Bohemia) · 1920s Art Deco
7
Verified Comps
$75 – $125
FMV Range
85%
Confidence[M]
The Maker
Tango Glass emerged in Bohemia around 1914, pioneered by the esteemed Loetz glassworks and specifically designer Michael Powolny. The style was a radical departure from the heavy, ornately cut Victorian crystal of the previous century, embracing the modern, minimalist aesthetics of the forthcoming Art Deco movement. These pieces utilized heat-stable cadmium and selenium to achieve intensely bright, semi-opaque blown glass bodies—frequently in orange, yellow, or red—framed by a distinct, fire-polished contrasting rim or applied threading. The style's name was coined by collectors in reference to the passionate, energetic Tango dance sweeping European ballrooms prior to and immediately following World War I. While Loetz originated the technique, the massive post-war demand led volume producers like Wilhelm Kralik Söhne, Franz Welz, and Rückl to adopt the style heavily for export. Consequently, Tango Glass became synonymous with the 1920s Bohemian glass industry, celebrated for bringing affordable, modern 'pops' of color into the jazz-age home.
Valuation
$75 – $125
Insurance / Replacement: $250
Auction FMV · 85% confidence High
This is a vibrant Bohemian Tango Glass vase, circa 1920s, characterized by its striking canary-yellow body and contrasting applied oxblood-red rim. In the absence of a maker's mark or specific shape verification, it is attributed to prolific Czechoslovakian glassworks of the era, such as Wilhelm Kralik Söhne or Franz Welz, rather than the premium Loetz tier. The valuation is firmly anchored by the robust interior decor market for unmarked Art Deco color-blocked glass, assuming standard cabinet proportions and flawless rim condition.
Market Analysis
The market for Bohemian Tango Glass is fiercely bifurcated by maker attribution. Definitively verified Michael Powolny designs for Loetz establish the categorical ceiling, frequently achieving $300 to $1,000+ at auction. However, our subject item is unmarked and lacks shape-verification provenance. Therefore, we must anchor the valuation on direct comparables for standard, unattributed Czech export glass. An exact colorway match (yellow with red rim) realized $85 on Mercari, while similar unmarked yellow and black/dark-rimmed variants consistently clear $90 to $125 individually (e.g., $122 for a Welz trumpet vase on Etsy, and $93 per vase from a sold pair on Vinterior). The $75–$125 estimate reflects this established wholesale-to-retail secondary market for single, unmarked pieces, explicitly excluding the premium reserved for authenticated Loetz examples.
Value Drivers
▲ Vibrant, high-contrast Art Deco colorway (yellow with red rim) highly sought after in contemporary interior design.
▲ Intact applied fire-polished rim, which is the defining technical feature of the Tango style.
▲ Categorical popularity of Mid-Century and Art Deco minimalist glass among decorators.
Concerns
▼ Unmarked status caps the ceiling strictly at the 'Bohemian Export' level rather than the premium Loetz tier.
▼ Extreme vulnerability to condition issues; any fleabites, chips, or bruises to the applied red rim will incur a 40-60% deduction.
▼ Unknown exact dimensions (assumed 6-10 inch cabinet scale); a miniature scale would soften the lower end of the estimate.
🏛 Best Venue
Etsy or Chairish
📈 Upside Potential
Positive structural verification matching a known, cataloged Michael Powolny/Loetz shape would immediately elevate the value into the $250+ tier.
⚠️
Authenticity Notice
Risk level: Medium for misattribution. While outright modern counterfeits of basic Tango glass are rare, the 'Loetz' name is heavily over-applied by sellers to unmarked Kralik or Welz pieces. Verification requires consulting shape catalogs (e.g., Loetz.com) rather than relying on style alone.
Comparable Sales (7)
Pamono / Chairish ↗ Apr 2026
$248
Yellow Tango Glass Vases from Loetz, Set of 2 (Czech, 1920s, Yellow w/ Black Rims)
HIGH SOLD
Etsy (Sold Archive) ↗ 2024
$122 USD
Franz Welz Bohemian Czech Art Deco Tango Art Glass Fluted Trumpet Vase (8")
HIGH SOLD
Etsy / sweetandsalt marketplace data ↗ 2024
$166.25 USD
Antique Loetz-Style Tango Glass Vase - Bohemian Czech Art Glass
MEDIUM SOLD
Vinterior ↗ 2024
$186 USD
Pair of Czech / Bohemian Yellow & Black Tango Glass Vases (5.75")
MEDIUM SOLD
Mercari ↗ 2024/2025
$85
Vibrant Yellow Glass Vase with Red Rim (Tango Art Glass, exact colorway match)
MEDIUM SOLD
Everard Auctions ↗ Jun 2024
$1,275
Three Handled Tango Glass Vases, Designed by Michael Powolny for Loetz (Group of 3, incl. yellow & red variants)
MEDIUM SOLD
1stDibs ↗
$2,200
Michael Powolny - Loetz - Bohemian Red Tango Glass Vase - C.R., Early 20th C. (5.25")
LOW LISTED
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Research Details
1
Rounds
7
Verified Comps
0/0
Questions
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Context Sources

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This report uses internet-based research techniques and should be used as a reference guide only. Critical input variables such as condition, provenance, rarity, and regional demand may not be fully captured and can alter value considerably. Auction results may include buyer's premium. Always verify data with primary sources before making purchasing or selling decisions. This does not constitute a formal appraisal.
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