Topic: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -

[keith]

 

[flying free]

I've been through the entire net and also the Museo del Vetro catalogue of approx 550 pieces of Salviati 19thc glass and apart from the one picture at Gardner and Barr I cannot find another example of this ewer or pitcher.  I think it must be very rare now.  There are  few ewers/jugs in the collection in comparison to tazzas/beakers/goblets -  Out of 550 pieces I found 54 ewers.  Reassuringly many of the pieces in the archive are very damaged so I don't feel bad about my jug at all.  Mine has a hole in one side that seems to have been a long burst stretched bubble - there are some large bubbles in the glass.  I found very similar damage on another piece in the collection and the same with large bubbles.  Some do not have feet, others are fragments only now and some have more damage than mine.   
My ewer seems to have an interesting repair on the neck where the handle joins - done with clear glass somehow.  There is one Dolphin face that is completely intact which is a great reference.  The serpents top part of it's mouth (is that a lip lol?) is chipped at the end but it does mean you can see the gorgeous red tongue. 

I've linked to another vase that has a serpent on it where you can see the eyes and the face of the serpent are very similar to mine. Same time period of 1866-1873
And one which has dolphins with ruby eyes. Again same time frame.

It appears mine is about 140yrs old this year - I hope I haven't just jinxed myself only to discover it's a reproduction 
I will be looking after it very carefully from now on   I've sent an email to Gardner and Barr to ask if they have any more information.  I'll add if they get back to me.
I've will add some more close up pictures
http://www.archiviodellacomunicazione.it/Sicap/ShowDialog.aspx?TITLE=VIEWERTITLE&TBL=OA&ID=321360&Ext=jpg&Folder=&MODE=VIEW&OPAC=DEFAULT&WEB=MuseiVE

http://www.archiviodellacomunicazione.it/Sicap/ShowDialog.aspx?TITLE=VIEWERTITLE&TBL=OA&ID=303553&Ext=jpg&Folder=&MODE=VIEW&OPAC=DEFAULT&WEB=MuseiVE

m

[chopin-liszt]

I'm so green with envy it's taken me this long to comment without spluttering or being vitriolic because you have it and I don't - I've been repeating and repeating my mantra of "what a friend has is never lost" and it's finally sunk in enough for me to say,

Congratulations, well done, I'm so pleased and happy for you, it's gorgeous and glorious and fabulous and fascinating!
(Honestly.  )

[flying free]

   thank you.  It's going somewhere safe (not be knocked over as I did with a beautiful perfect antique vase last week  - does that make you feel better  )
m

[chopin-liszt]

I feel better that you've put it somewhere safe; 
the other thing is a shame and I'm sorry.   

[flying free]

Sheldon Barr has come back to me very kindly and confirmed this is a Salviati piece.
I'm now off to get a copy of his book "Venetian Glass, Confections in Glass, 1855-1914," Harry N. Abrams, 1998
m