A fine Bohemian engraved blue-overlay vase attributed to Franz Paul Zach, Munich, circa 1865

the shouldered ovoid form overlaid in blue and carved with a Bacchic scene of three putti and a goat within a beaded oval panel, reserved within leaf scroll on a matt ground, the shoulder cut with stiff leaves, the neck, base section and foot of faceted clear glass, radial-cut base 

A notable decorator of blue overlay glass, much of Franz Paul Zach's work was carried out in Munich for the Frankfurt and Würzburg-based firm of Steigerwald, where he lived from 1855 until his death in 1881.

Whilst this vase is unsigned it is almost certainly Zach's work. The treatment of the figures and the foliate scrollwork is practically identical to elements of a goblet, sold in these Rooms, 19th December 2002, lot 20. The use of the matted ground alongside the contrasting clear glass sections is also to be found on several signed examples (see G.Holtl, Das Böhmische Glas, vol.III, pp.180-181, figs. 231-233 and the two examples sold in these Rooms, 19th December 2002, lots 41 and 50).