Rosenthal Crystal

Q: My mother had this etched crystal vase for many years but couldn't find who the maker was. It's marked with a crown over a fancy letter "R." Can you tell me who made it and how old it is?

A: Your vase is probably a goblet made by Rosenthal, a company founded by Philipp Rosenthal in Germany about 1880. Rosenthal is best known for its porcelain and didn't begin to make glass until 1957. This cut and engraved pattern is called Romanze (Romance). It was designed by Bjorn Wiinblad (1918 – 2006) and made in the 1960s to go with a dinnerware pattern he also designed for Rosenthal.