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Author Topic: VB OPALINE FLORENCE MADE IN ITALY  (Read 15281 times)

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Offline Ivo

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Re: VB OPALINE FLORENCE MADE IN ITALY
« Reply #10 on: January 09, 2012, 03:48:57 PM »
I can only refer back to my earlier posting on Empoli companies.

Offline Tigerchips

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Re: VB OPALINE FLORENCE MADE IN ITALY
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2012, 09:03:22 PM »
AV could be for Arte Vetraria (art glass)?
One day I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine. William Hartnell

Offline Tigerchips

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Re: VB OPALINE FLORENCE MADE IN ITALY
« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2012, 11:00:12 PM »
I just noticed in the AV mark there is a fleur de lis, although it's not identical there is also a fleur de lis in the Stelvia mark, coincidence?

If S.t.e.l.v.i.a stands for Società Toscana Esercizio Lavorazione Vetri Industriali e Artistici, the AV could stand for Artistici Vetri (artistic glass).
One day I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine. William Hartnell

Offline Wayne

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Re: VB OPALINE FLORENCE MADE IN ITALY
« Reply #13 on: January 31, 2012, 09:01:04 AM »
Some interesting possibilities there!  Well spotted with the fleur de lis too, I hadn't noticed that, it does seem to hint at a link.  Unless, again, it is something that the importers and retailers requested?

I've been hunting for more pieces with the "AV" labels, so far I've turned up these three:



The last one has a pattern normally found with the "VB" labels, so it does looks like both labels were used on pieces by the same manufacturer.

Offline Ivo

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Re: VB OPALINE FLORENCE MADE IN ITALY
« Reply #14 on: January 31, 2012, 10:40:58 AM »

Offline Wayne

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Re: VB OPALINE FLORENCE MADE IN ITALY
« Reply #15 on: January 31, 2012, 01:15:57 PM »
Thanks Ivo, I've been through that page before looking for clues (by the way, check out their gallery if you haven't already, it's a bit tricky to find [Link]). There are certainly a lot of possibilities on there for both sets of initials.

Offline Tigerchips

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Re: VB OPALINE FLORENCE MADE IN ITALY
« Reply #16 on: January 31, 2012, 02:42:21 PM »
Thanks Ivo & Wayne

I came across this...
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/fine-vintage-eames-deco-italian-murano-glass-vase
http://images.cloud.worthpoint.com/wpimages/images/images4/1/1007/01/1_0424b480bef525992e115aa351924224.jpg

It has two labels attached, the 'V.B Opaline Florence Made in Italy' globe label and what looks like a white 'Toscany Made in Italy' label.

You may be wondering why there are 'possibly' two importers on one item, so am i.  :24:

I'm presuming the Toscany label belongs to that vase rather than it being a stray. Toscany are more likely to be an importer since the same labels are found in many forms like 'Hand Blown Toscany Made in Romania' etc.

Gosh, this is confusing, a glass blower appears on this 'Opalina Fiorentina' label...
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Grosse-Henkel-Vase-Glas-Opalina-Fiorentina-un-1950-60-/250904564390

...the same glass blower appears in reverse on the AV label. Maybe, like you say, they just used the same images for their labels. Stelvia used a glassblower in one of their round labels but it's not the same.
One day I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine. William Hartnell

Offline Wayne

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Re: VB OPALINE FLORENCE MADE IN ITALY
« Reply #17 on: February 01, 2012, 10:24:18 AM »
Nice find, I've only seen that globe label once before.  I always presumed Toscany was an alternate spelling for "Tuscany", which is the region where Empoli is located.  When googling "toscany", lots of results about Italy come up.  So I thought the 'Toscany Made in Italy' labels were generic export labels.  I can't explain the link with Romanian glass etc though, unless it's just a coincidence?

I thought I had seen that glassblower somewhere before!  I'm pretty sure Stelvia used those scroll labels, but maybe other manufacturers did too.  Or maybe Stelvia were responsible for all these labels, both the scroll labels and ones with the wax seals, and was their attempt to imitate or compete with French glass?

Offline Wayne

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Re: VB OPALINE FLORENCE MADE IN ITALY
« Reply #18 on: February 01, 2012, 11:24:53 AM »
Just posting a close up of the Stelvia label which might help:



And a link to an item with one of the scroll labels, along with a tag that matches the Stelvia logo of a fleur de lis, with what looks like a lion next to it:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Opalina-Glas-Vase-rosa-TOP-um-1960-very-rare-/120849505725?

*edit* Direct link to the close up pic of the tag, maybe it will stay active longer than the ebay listing: [Pic]

 

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